I was drunk with questions after my large glass of Coke at the multiplex yesterday. Drunk without having been served a margarita, that is. One of my perennial concerns is the curious price of the glass, which I fail to arrive at even after factoring in all costs. The second pertains to audience attitude in the theatre. This is scary because it leaves me feeling depressed, out of place and at odds with the world.
What, for instance, can explain the presence of several babbling, very young children during the screening of Shonali Bose’s “Margarita with a Straw”?
I, for one, clearly remember the A-rated notification that popped up when I made my booking. The parents figured a straw is for kids, perhaps?
Another question that comes to mind refers to the peals of laughter that accompany cinematic love-making or allusion to sex. I can understand the giggles of a twelve-year old, reading about the quirky human body for the first time. It however is unfathomable when similar behaviour is exhibited by adults, seemingly mature and all there. If I manage to watch a “sexy” scene – or one that is low on conversation and background music – undisturbed in the theatre, I consider it a red letter day.
Anyhow, I felt heady after my Coke and Margarita cocktail and decided to look around a nearby bookstore. Splashed all across the Indian Fiction shelves were tales involving college pass-outs and their promiscuous relationships. The books boasted of colourful, vivid covers, to say nothing of their equally colourful titles. I Kissed You, You Didn’t. You are not my Only Girlfriend. It seems strange that a generation with such, err, vast experience of love, lust and all things carnal should giggle during a heartfelt attempt to portray a physically challenged girl’s sensuality.
Back home, I poured myself some iced tea and sat down to reflect. I figured I would need to be sober to hit upon just why the world seems to be growing shallower and more tiresome by the minute.
Of Paneer, Pulao and Pune 
An absolutely beautiful post. It’s been a while since I read something that I loved so much, or something that struck such a chord with me. We all deserve to let ourselves be happier than we are – appreciate the little joys of life, overlook the little niggles of concern, regret or worry. Thanks for a lovely post!
Warm welcome here, Ami. 🙂 I am delighted you enjoyed the post.
Completely agree with you on how we all deserve to be happy. Wish you a happy weekend ahead and hope to see you around more often! 😀
Colin’s Law No. 1 – The Law of Probabilities (used to argue against negative thinking):
“If something is probably not going to work* then, all other things being equal, there must be an equal probability that it will work*. The difference becomes simply your choice. Do you want it to work*?”
* can substitute “be good”; “make you happy” etc.:)
________________________________________________
As for your sunshine? Celebrate it as people in other parts of the world would love to! Celebrate your humidity because people in very dry climates would love to be where you are. Celebrate your temperature! Would you want to live in the far North? Celebrate your life and have a wonderful day!
I am going to make that a thumb-rule. 😀 Really admire your attitude towards life. It came in handy this morning when I was just about to curse the sudden heat wave Pune seems to be reeling under. 😛
Sadly (and unfortunately) it seems to be an instinctive reaction of people to complain when things are not going their way. They totally forget to put their circumstances into comparison with others and it is important (would suggest critical) to always do that.
If you want a happy life, and given that the world does not revolve around you, it comes down to taking responsibility for your own emotions. It is simply too easy to blame the weather, the government, your friends etc. etc. when things go wrong …… but that does not solve anything. Laying blame simply excuses you from taking any responsibility for your own emotions! As for the weather? Why allow something that you have no control over spoil your day?
A quote which I especially like (author unknown):
“I cried because I had no shoes …………….. until I met a man who had no feet.”
Think about it and celebrate what you DO have rather than focus on what you DO NOT have. 🙂
Bingo, Colin. Count your blessings, I say too. Thanks a lot for the mood-lifter! 🙂
I wish I had the answers, but I have the same questions swirling in my head for quite a while now!
Sigh. Anyway, on the brighter side, all those questions probably contribute to a smarter and more active brain. 😛
You have a point there! 😉
Cheers to that! 😀
The world has not suddenly started getting shallower by the minute, but perhaps you are now becoming aware of the fact. The problem, as I see it, is that there are a lot of immature, selfish people in the world. They cannot get a sitter for their young child (or do not want to pay for one) so the child goes to the movie with them regardless of appropriateness. When an adult giggles at a “sexual encounter” movie scene, I have to question their perception of love and intimacy. These are the same people who drive recklessly, throw their garbage on the ground, do not pick up after their dog, make fun of mentally challenged individuals ….. and so the list goes on. I would suggest that the Romans cheering (or jeering) at their own “blood sports” is no different so this sad trait goes back a long way.
When I used to drive to work in the morning, I would always the remember the “idiot” who cut me off with an unsignaled lane change, or the one who blasted passed me at a speed way in excess of the limit. I would not however remember the 400-500 cars with whom I shared the road and who drove responsibly. The point here is acknowledge the reality that human nature leaves a lot to be desired and is often disappointing ….. but never forget the fact that there are many, many people who are more thoughtful, are more respectful, and simply more mature. We always acknowledge the negatives in our world, but we must also recognize the positives otherwise we become rather jaded, negative, and disheartened. Keep smiling ……… that’s always a good start! 🙂
Cheers, Colin! I love hearing from you for you always present a brighter, happier side to situations. I have to agree – we never fail to denounce the negatives and the disappointments but take a lot of goodness for granted.
I also agree with your theory about the kids in the theatre. But I still feel the parents could choose otherwise. Rent a home DVD, make alternate plans, etcetera. Why spoil the experience for others? Why, for that matter, expose impressionable young minds to content they are probably not mature enough to understand yet?
I love your example of the Romans and blood sports. Sometimes, the world seems to be headed that way. We love violence; we are often voyeuristic. We are commitment phobics; we are intolerant of anyone who doesn’t think the way we do. But yeah, we also have good Samaritans like yourself and that is probably reason enough to raise a toast to the world! 😉 🙂
Always toast the world! While there are many reasons to get disheartened, there also reasons to celebrate. Sometimes we just have to consciously look for them ….. but they are there! Always toast the world. 🙂
Let’s hold that thought. Cheers! 😀
The world indeed has turned shallow and loathsome by these years 🙂
Or maybe our spirit has been affected by all the shallowness. Let’s look at the sunshine today. Not that there is any dearth of it in the city lately! *sweating* 😛