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I have been putting it off for the last 3 days, of course owing to genuine reasons. But yesterday I was determined to go watch the movie ‘Athmakatha’, come what may. There were reviews that it’s a good movie. Friends were telling me that is a rather good movie. So I had to see it. Yes, I had to!!

My colleagues at Karmakerala have been complaining of late that Vinish, our designer has started seeing a lot of movies these days. Hey, that’s not a compliment, I think. They are probably accusing me of having spoilt a ‘good boy’. The thing is, he has always been selective in watching movies. And selective is what I have never been, especially in watching movies. Vinish was saying that though he wanted to watch ‘Athmakatha’, he had lots of other things to do and hence won’t be coming along. But the kind guy that he is, he came to drop me to the theatre, the multiplex at the Oberon Mall. On the way, he offered to come if I wanted him to and I said, “Then come na!”. The parking lot at Oberon was full, we had to park outside. Vinish once again hesitated, but I now insisted and he gave in.

Rupees 150 for a ticket, that amounts to 300 rupees for two. This is something that neither I nor Vinish likes, especially when we can see the very same movie at another theatre in the city for Rs. 60 or 70 per person. Anyway, we were in. I have been to multiplexes in Chennai, the experiences have always been good, except perhaps for the expenses. I have always loved watching movies at the local theatre at my place, the one with thatched roof and old-styled, but with all modern facilities like digital sound system, digital projection et al. Anyway, for someone who has watched movies in multiplexes in other cities, the Kochi multiplex experience may not be that good. There was no one to show us our seats. We walked to the far end of our row ‘B’ and then, on realizing that we were at the wrong end, had to move on to our end. The movie had begun and the titles were rolling. Having settled down, I took out, as I usually do, my pen and a paper and took down the names that I needed. The movie began and we both were absorbed in it.

It was a well-made and touching film. Since snacks at multiplexes always cost more and both of us always prefer seeing films munching fried groundnuts, which we can have at other places for 5 or 10 rupees and sipping coffee which too comes at almost the same price, we were happy to see that the movie was going without stopping for the interval. But alas…the soundtrack went mute. Sitting on the row before us were a couple of families. One of the guys started booing after commenting, “I didn’t want to, but they have made me …”. Repeated booing and shouting was of no avail. Two guys went out to find the people.

This is what ensued…

• They came back in 5 minutes saying the the theatre guys were relaxing, not knowing what was going on and they may repeat the portion that was muted.
• The very next minute, the screen went blank and the lights came on. I went out, taking it to be the interval, determined to ask them to repeat from the interval.
• The two guys who had gone out earlier too moved out. We went over to make the inquiries. There were only the canteen guys available. They were asking us to report the matter to the manager.
• The manager was either not available or they didn’t want us to meet him, showing reluctance at us getting into the manager’s cabin.
• In about 5 minutes a young chap emerged from the cabin and mumbled something and moved on, going out as if he would set things right.
• In the meantime, a lady who was part of the family came out to inform that the movie has already started and it was not interval.
• We rushed in, only to find that the movie had resumed from where it had stopped and there was no replay of the muted portions. No one seemed to care.

Anyway the movie was good, touching. That was the real plus of it all. We both were so carried away with the movie that we even felt like forgetting what had happened with the screening and all. Vinish even said a ‘Thank You for making me see the film”, while leaving me at Kaloor.

I was gratified. But I don’t want to go to the multiplex again. I know I will have to, to catch up with films that I can’t at other places…