Friday evening. I left office with my friend and the only thing I wanted was to relax. En-route to home we suddenly decided to check for some movie at one of the multiplex*. I generally go to movies randomly making enough efforts that no movie review enters my ears before I see it. This way, I have enjoyed many more movies such as Welcome to Sajjanpur, Saheb Biwi aur Gangster, Do Dooni Chaar, Shaitan and so on.
Before parking the vehicle we ensured that there is some show. It was 'Ek Main aur Ekk Tu' due to start in 5 minutes. After parking the vehicle, we proceeded to buy tickets. I am not sure why it did not strike us that the multiplex looked deserted. There were hardly any vehicles in parking. There was no queue at ticket counter. There was not even a single boy waiting anxiously for his girlfriend. There was no let's-chill-after- office couple in sight. At ticket counter, I was surprised when counter boy said, "The show will not run. There are less than 10 people to see and minimum 25 are required". What ?
There were six or seven others who were disappointed like us including a lady who was trying hard to convince cinema guys, "Hey, We have burnt fuel of more than ticket price to come this far for it". We waited for few minutes thinking in this city of more than 50 lacs at least 25 will turn up. None came and we left.
Before yesterday, I always used to think that it can only be the other way round. I have come back many times from theaters because I could not secure a ticket. I have bought a ticket in black for a Hindi movie not starring Rajnikanth in Chennai. I have sit on front rows for many movies to strain my neck. But not getting a ticket because there are not enough people to watch ?
For a movie released just last Friday ?
For a movie starring Kareena Kapoor and Aamir Khan's nephew ?
On the much awaited Friday evening in a city dominated by corporate culture?
On a day when the only significant Hindi movie released was 'Ek Deewana Tha' ? (Significant only because it has A R Rahman music).
On my way back* I was wondering what could be the reasons for such a lackadaisical response, even worse than Mumbai response to its civic elections.
May be the market research of the multiplex has gone wrong ? But the multiplex is surrounded by concrete jungle, thousands of residential flats and hundreds of immigrants bachelors working in Pune.
May be too many bad movie reviews.
May be people are bored of Kareena Kapoor ? Less likely.
Movies have short life now. At most 1.5 weeks. Still some manage to earn 100 crores in this time period.
May be movies come too soon on television ? True.
May be torrents ?
May be people have better things to do.
May be everyone has seen it.
* The multiplex is situated in Kharadi, Pune.
*We took our Rs.10 back from parking guy :)
