Sunday, July 26, 2009

Theatrical Debut

This weekend witnessed the SG's first visit to a theatre. Ever since his conception, I have been off the theatre, because it never felt right to take a baby into the theatre, which may not only upset him, but spoil the experience for all the other viewers. Leaving him with someone was not an option for me, because I would have ended up simply fretting about him. So it was Cd's, that I stuck religiously. But this time it was Harry Potter, and having missed catching Order Of The Phoenix, in the theatres, the SG being teeny tiny back then, no way, was I giving this up. Since the SG is grown up a bit now, I thought father and son can enjoy time alone, if required, but I am not giving this movie a miss.

Harry Potter movies obviously are not an optional thing for fans. My relationship with the movies goes back to when I was in college. The first movie was (The Philosopher's Stone) was viewed, just because it was running in the theatre. I did not know who or what Harry Potter was at that point, but I loved the movie, I guess it had a lot to do with the fact that I had not read the book, had I read it, I might have not quite liked the movie. Never did I have imagined back then, that one day I would be watching a movie in the same series with my two and half year old son.

So the tickets were booked online, and off I went for the six in the evening show. A big bucket of popcorn in tow, to keep the SG happy. A small multiplex screen, was not even packed, being a weekend evening. Maybe the movie really has received all the bad reviews it so rightly deserves. The SG was happy, with the popcorn, and was not at all disturbed by the darkened theatre. The issue then? He kept blabbering, and occasionally a screamed to express his excitement, especially when the screen showed special effects. His parents being the overly conscious people they are, kept asking him to keep quiet, which he did for a little while before going back to being all happy and excited. Finally with the last half hour of the movie to go, the BG left the theatre with the SG. Just did not feel right to kill the viewing pleasure of the other viewers. And that was how the SG debuted at his first theatre visit.

If you are expecting a review of the movie, there is none, because it is quite impossible to say anything even remotely nice about the movie if you have read the book, lets just say, they butchered the story, and worse than any of the previous attempts. And trust me I did not realise just how badly, till on the way back, the BG asked me several questions about the storyline, having not read the book, he just could not understand what was going on. It is that bad, for someone who has not read the book, there are way too many gaps in the storyline, and for the ones who have, you will be shocked at how much they have deviated from the original. I just prayed they would keep the last sequence true to the story, but they did not.

I had dressed up, because I was really excited to go to a theatre after ages. And well for nothing else, but the fact that it was the SG's first time, I am happy. The movie was followed by a trip to a bookshop, and after a really long time, I picked up some books to read, the last one I had bought was Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. Have not bought a book since then. All my books are languishing, in a humid dump at a relative's place in India, don't know if I will regain them in good health. Libraries are not much of an option here, so I finally went and bought myself a few books. Reading is something I can barely make time for, and now it basically means I sleep later than ever, but I am happy, to be reading. Once upon a time, no matter how tiered, I could not shut my eye without reading a bit. In school I would have atleast four books of fiction on my bedside at all times. In college we would circulate books in the hostel, there was never a dearth of reading material. Later while working, my reading time used to be the four hours of travel time, I managed to read in the packed locals. Never realised how and when I gave up the habit. Too much time on the net I guess. Hopefully will be back to reading books, more than blogs.

So much to do, so little time, how do I prioritise. Lucky people with maids, I am so sick of the rinse and repeat cycle of housework. Dishes, laundry, home-cleaning, cooking. The endless cycle of it, why can't we be without food, I wonder sometimes. The dishes pile up each day, just as does the laundry. If only there was some variety to this work. Guess not, will have to make do with what I have, improve my efficiency, rather than dawdling time.

10 comments:

mindspace said...

hey loved how u used theater instead of movie or multiplex :) brings back memories.

u said locals? n 4 hrs travelling? u must be in mumbai that time.. i worked there for around 5-6 years and i would spend the time either reading or dozing off after a while of observing ppl.

n the rinse and repeat.. thats my time pass for now I am kind of enjoying it.. I am sure u are already efficient at it.. managing blog, books, baby n working out along with so much more..

Roop Rai said...

gosh, my head nodded wildly at the last para!!!!! why can't we just do without food darnit. why don't we have a door on our stomachs which we can open to put raw food inside that'd cook and digest on its own. :/ no cooking ka jhanjhat no dishes to wash!!!

D said...

As the SG grows up, you'll be back to doing a lot of things you'd given up for his sake.

And the bit about choosing between books and blogs, happens with me too. Reading takes a backseat as blogging takes forefront. I'm also trying to get things back on track. A lot depends on the book I'm reading. Some books are so rivetting, not even blogging can tempt me away from them.

Sraboney said...

You are brave to take your son to the theatre - we haven't tried it yet...

I know what you mean when you say you are sick of the endless cycle of domestic chores - I'm already sick of my mundane life in 5 weeks!

Mamma mia! Me a mamma? said...

Oops!! You should read my reply to your comment on my blog! Hehehe...seems like I spoke to soon! ;)

Yup, see what they did with the story there? Pity...

Passionate Goof said...


Mindspace - Yes Bombay, bombay. Aah the locals, the lovable enemy, I tell you. It is addictive traveling in them.

Roop - Considering its you, you would not even require the door.

D - So it seems now, though I had not thought it possible initially, in those sleepless days, with him permanently glued to me. You are very wise for your age girl!

Bones - Had it not been harry Potter, I would not have tried it either.;) But this one I could not give a miss.

M4 - The movie is made form another similair story, it is not the one we read, i tell you!

Anonymous said...

Ok so he did at least sit for half the movie! Phew. I took Yuvaan and Hayaa to an animation movie - Tinker Bell some time back and they didn't sit on a seat for even the titles. They just kept running around in the theatre. But it was a kids show so no problems with the audience :)

Passionate Goof said...


Rakesh - must have been fun!

Piper .. said...

Last para - nodding like a mad woman at this!! :):)

Passionate Goof said...


Piper - I am sure it did! We poor women without househelp, I tell you!