Ball at the Mall

A few days back, I was feeling bored,so me and wife went to a mall just for time pass.Malls are good in this respect, that u can go as many times, and no one will ask you why u are there.You cant go to a private shop, everyday and browse around without buying anything.

So malls are the next best thing for me.Wife said I too will come with u, so we both went to a mall closeby, these days they are a dime a dozen, each one better than the other.Most have the cinemas , and some eating joints.

Here I came across a section selling CD’s and DVD’s of all the movies.the latest ones were very expensive,so I did not touch them.They were like 150/-, even the latest Rani Mukherjee movie just released.Wait a month or two and we will get them for 34/-then I will buy and watch.

I find the Theatres too expensive these days.A family of 4,go for the movies in these Innox theatres, and u are down by a 1000 bucks, and if u eat  another 500/-.Just wait a couple of months, and TV shows u the same movie for free, withlots of Advts to tear yr hair apart, or pick up a CD for 34/- and watch it at yr own convienience at home, with a Drink of yr choice.But if u guys and gals follow my advise, all the Khans will go bankrupt , so please ignore my advise at the earliest.And another problem is i have to sit for 3 hours without smoking, hence i prefer to watch at home in two or three sittings, and i still enjoy the movie.

Here I saw a section of old movies, sold by Moser Bear, for 34/- CD’s, and DVD’s for 45/-Ipicked up the old titles some 25 30 of them.Madhumati,Aradhana,Sacha Jootha,Chitchor,Andaz(old one),Ek Hi Rasta ,Johar Mehmmod in Goa  and a host of old movies. Harsha  went to Big Bazar to buy veggies and fruits, and here I was down the memory lane.It was unfortunate that I had just a 1000 bucks with me, and I had to offload a few movies for want of money.We both had nothing left, and we had to forgo a cup of coffee and sandwiches, so I promised her I will make it  up by taking her to Switzerland soon.

I could not wait to watch a movie, and the first one I decided to watch was Aradhana.what a lovely movie, I had forgotten half of it, and till midnight we were watching it, very unusual for both of us as we normally sleep early.Just imagine with the AC on, Tuffy and Harsha with me, and watching this classic, is this not heaven, then what is.Just 34/- for the movie, and maybe 16/- for the AC electricity, we had a dream night together.It takes very little to make me happy, and that too after a nice dinner of Fish and whiskey, and a couple of papads to boot.

Harsha was saying she was in the 9^th Std when she saw it, so I must have been in the 10^th,and all the memories came back.And Rajesh Khanna was so popular those days, all the guys started to wear his Kurtas, and parting hair like him.

The producer Director Shakti Samantha was very fond of Sharmila Tagore,and she was in most of his movies like Kashmir ki Kali where he introduced her opp Shammi Kapoor, to Evening in Paris, and  it seems he wanted to give her a Gift of a memorable movie, a Double role, something like Mehbook Khan gave to Nargis in Mother India.But here Rajesh Khanna took the honours, coming from no where.Rajesh Khanna was deliberately chosen, so as not to pose a challenge to Sharmila’s Role, but fate willed otherwise.Nobody remembered Sharmila, and Rajesh Khanna was born.I call that fate.

The next day we saw Madhumati, and what lovely songs “ Suhana Safar”, being the best of the lot.And it reminded me of Om Shanti Om, which was lifted ditto from this movie.the actual dead woman coming back to make the villain talk, and then the living heroine of the same face coming, all copied from Madhumati.But I must say and believe that a  good copy is better than an  lousy original , that is my take.

Yesterday I was half way thru Teesri Manzil, and boy the songs and the acting, the suspense and Premnath, what a lovely movie.This movie gave the break to RD Burman, who was languishing under his dad SD Burman.Shammi Kapoor wanted Shanker Jaikishan, his favourites .RD managed to convince Nasir Hussain,Aamir Khan;s uncle,who was the producer.Nasir told RD to convince Shammi, and Shammi gave a very hard time to RD, but RD was adamant, and ultimately made Shammi listen to a Hundred tunes in his bedroom, and Shammi was so floored, that he chose the tunes for the movie.The rest as they say  is History.

And I have many more movies to see, and this 1000/- movies will keep me busy for a few months ahead, my nights will be pleasant, each movie bringing their own memories, their scandals, and controversies as I remember over the years.And don’t worry friends, I wont bore u with them.Who of u has  the time to listen to an old man’s  ramblings, so let it be.

The point I want to make friends is this.It dosnt cost much to be happy, at least I can be in heaven in very little.Bye.

KAMAL MAHTANI