Mangal Mangal

Four years of wait, 15th August two days away, and easily accessible desi theatre- add these up and the result is "rising" of a desire to watch the movie. I started campaigning to my friends that we should go and watch Aamir in his new movie. On friday, I went to the desi theatre- 5 minutes away from my place, and called a couple of my friends "I am buying tickets for tommorow's show, how many do you want?" Though my friends's answers did not disappoint me, the ticket seller's did. The man behind the iron bar window told me with a straight face "No tickets tommorow, today how many?" I had already discounted desis for phone or internet booking, but this... this was a little disappointing. However, riding the Aamir wave, I was still excited and decided to come a little earlier the next day.

Next day, I reach there half an hour early. I had read in the TOI that Delhi's cineplexes had the movie shows booked for atleast a month in advance, so I expected some queue here, too. There was a queue, but not in front of the ticket window, but in front of the entrance. Scared me a little, but soon I got the custody of six "Admit one" stubs (These promptly explained the logic of no advance booking). It was 105F at 3:30 PM, and heeding to the weatherman warning, I was carrying a gatorade bottle. (it was filled with my Brita's "pure" water, but that's not the point). I showed my ticket to the gujrati lady at the entrance and was rushing inside, where she interrupts me and asks, "What's in the bottle?" "Water", I promptly replied. "But that's available inside too." she frowned. I said "You see, I brought it with me, so there's no need." That brought an expression, on her face, which was more enjoyable than the whole movie itself. My das daalar vasooled right at the gate!

Finally, I got inside and grabbed the furthermost seat in the hall. While I'm cooling off, the smell inside makes me nostalgic of my college days, or rather, the indian theatres. In the dimness of the light, I can see some large speakers on the side walls. So I say to myself, the owner did not spend much money on ticketing, may be he did on the sound system. Before I'm done with the thought, a preview starts- "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara." And I console myself, the previews might be on another tape, the original movie must have "better" sound effects ("better" or may be "some"). While I was expecting more previews and some chopper circling mega structures and the sound of DTS 6.1, the movie had already started. The drums beating in the background, a mega screen filled with an army of red, a pehelwaan with a big moustache, my complaints are quickly fading away. The boss is here.