July 13th, 2003
Sunday around 3P.M I had finished my work so early as per my plan. Evening I was totally free and had no work. But I really did not notice the fact that my asst. colleagues (friends) were so happy that I have finished my work so soon .Normally they love to take me for a round all over the city on weekends. I used to go to the temples in the morning or parks in the evening. For the first time for a change I asked,” Shall we go for a movie today evening?”
‘Why not? Sure but which movie?’, Everyone raised a question.
I took few seconds and replied, ‘Saamy!’
Oh my gosh! You had to see their noise. They were like on cloud nine. I thought they were so happy because for the first time I opted to go for Vikram’s movie! That was truly a surprise for them. What to do? I know they’ve tried their level best to convince me to watch his movies so far but had failed. I knew that I was the reason for their distress. I think they might have watched it almost 2-3 times already but still!
So almost 12 people, we have reached the theatre at 5.45 show was at 6.30 PM .
I was saying them that what was the need to go so early? And they replied, ‘Or else we will not get tickets.’
‘Oh, Come on! Don’t bluff .Don’t be so crazy. I think the movie in on its 70+days we’ll get the ticket.’
They did not agree. Finally I had to agree to go early. The scene outside the theatre was almost unbelievable for me. What I heard throughout, those days and read in newspapers was true. I just couldn’t believe my eyes.
Ten weeks after ‘Saamy’s release, the queues still made sinuously long outside theatres; black rates stood still at Rs.250-300 a ticket: trade reports were showing the records.
I just put thousand Rs. in Rajesh’s pocket and said, ‘Rajesh, I don’t know how but you have to get the tickets. I really must see what is so special in this movie. At any cost you have to get the tickets.’
Rajesh refused to take the money. I had to force them by saying it is just my small treat for all of them. Rajesh got disappeared amidst of the crowd along with his other two friends. I was waiting along with others.
Meanwhile my eyes turned towards the huge poster of the movie in which Vikram was wearing white full sleeve shirt and white dhoti.(The scene white he challenges the villain on his (hero’s) marriage day. First I thought this movie also should be full of drama like Telugu movies or like other Tamil movies.
I just had a look on that poster and thought. ‘Vikram! This is the first time I am coming to watch your movie that too by my own interest. I don’t bother about the money but I bother about the time. I cannot tolerate if any movie, which is just a time waste. I don’t expect anything from you. I just hope you make me to sit in my seat till the movie ends. Nothing else. Don’t break that hope!’
‘Hey, Hari we’ve got the tickets!’, when Rajesh shouted I came back to the real world Rajesh knew few people in that theatre. So he was able to get without much effort.
‘Hey, if I am not mistaken today is this movie’s 74th day right?’ , I asked.
‘Yes’, everyone replied.
‘Then why this kind of a crowd? Whether this movie is running only in this theatre?’, I requestioned.
‘No.No.. it’s showing at 7 screens here but everywhere same situation not only ‘Saamy’.. ‘Dhool’ is still running at 3 screens here. All shows are houseful.
‘Why whether all of there have gone nuts? Why should be such a craze? It’s so stupid.’ That was my opinion.
‘No, it’s not craze. It is the magic of Vikram!’, one fellow among our group replied.
I understood that these are nothing but just a type. I thought that those people really don’t have any other work but did not say anything. After all why should I spoil their mood by my words?
We finished our rounds of having snacks at the near restaurant, as we had time of 15 minutes. Finally the moment came and we stepped inside the theatre. Thank god! We have got the exact middle seats at the balcony as per the serial numbers of the ticket. Normally I prefer the 2nd row or 3rd row from the last exactly where the projector locates. That is the best seat to view a movie, of course not with your girlfriend. In such case no need to say, everybody knows that it will be the corner seat. But the seat, which I mentioned is the angle by which the director shoots a movie.
No need to say that even before the movie starts theatre was full of noise and whistles. ‘Oh my god! Gone case! If this is the situation how I can watch the movie?’, I thought as I hate any kind of disturbances white watching the movie.
Finally the movie started.
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