the perils of watching a movie in a multiplex

Mumbai

Movie tickets on weekends especially the night are sky rocketing in Mumbai. For a PhD student, rates like 300 and 350 kill me inside. Why watch a movie on a weekend? Might as well choose a weekday when atleast prices are affordable. Yeah, so Tuesday where PVR gives you movie tickets for Rs 110. Good, at last I have a great deal but well no, because all office goers also figure that out. And so on a tuesday, if it is a good movie you will face full houses and no ticket scenario. Book in advance, suggest many and mind you PVR doesnt even have convenience fee. But where goes the ability to be spontaneous? The best plans in life are random and once that element goes away, something goes missing, right?

the second part is the one where we get tickets and go to watch the movie in the respective hall. The movie starts at least twenty minute later. First i have to look at a Katrina Kaif ad where she plays a cross between red riding hood and little bo peep, eating coconut candy. Then she comes in a Slice ad. Alright, fine. She is a pretty face. but that is not it. Then there is a tobacco is injurious to health 2minute campaign which is well, just unpleasant to watch especially for non smokers like me. "Itna tar, aapko bimaar bahut bimaar karne ke liye kaafi hai" I mean come on man, i am going for a feel good. you just make me feel bad :(

That is not it, now PVR decides that they will show me trailers, which i dont mind.
Very honestly, till date i dont understand the significance of playing the national anthem before a movie. Can someone who gets it explain to me, why? Is this the only time we should feel patriotic?

And if all this is not enough, it is a gamble. The movie might be just something i dont like or detest totally.

And then there are the people. No manners. Either they keep talking amongst themselves. Come on yaar, i paid money to watch the movie and not listen to your background music. Annoying kids more than a few times and yeah people talking on the phone, never keeping the phone on silent.

I love watching movies in the hall but these negative externalities, God please save the movie goers paradise.


Chennai:

well, at least the prices are flat in Chennai. 120 bucks on all days but ninety percent of the janta is a movie buff and hence you will never ever get tickets. you have to plan the movie at least three days in advance. So no room to be spontaneous but movie watching was a pleasure in chennai, now that i think of it. Satyam had screens called spot and the decor was spots, streak and decor was a streak of light. there was something about the multiplex. It also always started on time unlike our PVR at oberoi, mumbai.