Reverie

Caveat: This is to certify that the contents of this post is the result of a little experimentation of writing skills.

How to watch a movie?

When the first Indian feature film made by Dadasaheb Phalke (3700 feet long) was released in 1913, none could fathom its effect on the public sphere in just over nine decades. The practice of movie watching became a cult phenomenon. When one considers the modest beginnings to today’s multiplexes and the various sources ranging from CD’s, DVD’s, downloads in this world of umpteen choices, truly one ends perplexed “how to watch a movie?”

The usual hullabaloos of a weekend rush, the last minute touches to the set hair right, the gentle tug to straighten the crease of a shirt or pull up the jeans and tighten the belt, a little dab of cologne spray, packet popcorn or ice-lolly and the long winding snakelike queue that moves at a snails pace are distant memories from childhood days of a closing era in this wi-fi age. The jam-packed seats and the huge screens and the electrifying atmosphere where the protagonist appears among ooh’s, aah’s and even catcalls amid the die hard fans, the theatre ceases to be a four walled fence, but a dreamland unplugged.

For a dose of ‘apna Filmistan’ one needs to enjoy this exciting atmosphere with its dts features and the big screen transporting the common man into the realms of dreams which is a myth in real life. This is the most favoured and preferred medium of enjoying a film. To add on this event includes family union, chitchat, a chill out or freak out, an evening with a spouse or girlfriend or an out and out quality time spent with friends and family. “Nothing makes it more realistic” says Shekar who is an avid movie buff.

But Time had its own plans and no one thought it innocuous when Jack Kilby made I.C. chip a reality. This marked the commencement of the digital age which ushered products that was beyond ones imagination and lo there was no time lost by the Makers themselves to realise the opening a crisply marketed PR commodity commands. Up came the home theatre idea, CD’s, DVD’s and downloadable version virtually free of cost. Now the long winding queue and giant screen idea transformed into a portable ready to use disk on convenience. This altered the ego of the moviegoer and in time the much ness of choices spoiled the grand audience and they opted for the option that suited them most. This sad case stated by a theatre assistant, Madhavankutty, gives us the bigger picture.

“The same scene on a giant screen, TV, PC or home theatre brooks no difference today “says Riky, a freelance PC assembler, “You get the same story and people, then why not at my fancy and inclinations. It makes sense when you watch the time you desperately want to see it.” Cutting across differences is the tide is the lure technology which has been a trendsetter making the people savvy of its hand-outs.

Unto this comes the parable-how to watch it? By the law of averages a typical Indian prefers an outing to the domes of the black room where his wish is granted. To the youth a hang out and outing party, to those who love stacking a video, library is the perfect heaven and a hardware store Manna. To the Tech-savvy an online edition may seem the ultimate prize and as it remains for the common man- it boils down to convenience like sipping hot coffee with the entire family(if joint also) making his world complete and also well inside his economic budget. In the end one need not read a silly feature or rush for a review but listen to ones heart and take that first step and follow through. That’s the catch than the illusion of choice. After all’s said and done, we follow our inclinations!!!