Movie magic

I love movies .Though now it has become very expensive to go & watch it in theatres sorry multiplexes,wherein you feel like you have spent a fortune .Yes, a fortune -the ticket cost,plus  a snack which is invariably prices above 100 bucks .Also,let us not forget about the transport cost of getting to the theatre.So,it is rather advisable to get a CD & watch it on your computer  or on the idiot box .Nowadays, the films get to be telecast very fast on the television .So that is more economical.

But the big screen effect is missing from the tiny screens of the computers & the idiot box.Yes,this is true even of the lavish Home theatre systems which were being promoted by numerous brands.For that gigantic screen effect ,it is a must to visit the cinemas & experience the magic.

As the screen opens up in front of you ,you tend to become a participant.It si as if you are standing there watching all that is going on & enjoying every moment of it.In fact,you feel as if you are living it yourself.The scenaries are breathtaking.Even if some place you have visited is being shown ,you feel you never looked at that place in such details.In films depicting stories of ages gone by,we feel we are reliving history.Films also make us aware of a lot of things- of modern science in sci-fi films, of people whom we would like to know more like Gandhi,etc.The Richard Attenborough film on the Mahatma is a classic which taught the youngsters that there was indeed a man who managed to achieve independence through non-violence.

Some films also are quite ahead of their times & make us think on futuristic ideas.They force us to think about  different perspectives .Many films also depict stark realities driving home the point that we all should change for the better.Some films are based on romance,others on comedy,still others on relationships,on politics et al.

I feel that watching a film once in a while is better than going shopping.Shopping is generally a useless exercise as we tend to go overboard .We shop for things which we will never use & then such things occupy space in our matchbox sized houses.Moreover,we are unable to discard them as we remember the exact amounts we have wasted in buying them.Yes,unfortunately our mind stores all such information to remind us how indulgent we have been though at other crucial moments,our memory fails us .

When we watch a film,we enjoy it & the memory of it lingers on diverting our minds to relax.Shopping is an exercise in stress & the money spent  is rarely ever  completely utilised.So,every time, my daughter's exams get over,I take her to a movie.We bond together & it is a treat ! My husband reluctantly agrees, as it has reduced my kid's shopping sprees.

Though I do feel that multiplexes have robbed the poor of watching movies in theatres,I still vote for the movie magic.I hope & trust that somehow ,the bottom strata are also able to catch a movie or two in the vanishing cinema halls once in a while.After all,they also need to relax -though a luxury in these times,they also have a right to relax.

Reading attitude.

I took part in an online novel writing contest after Deepavali last year. The target was to write more than 50,000 words in one month from the 1st of the month till the last day of the month.

Though, I took this up mainly to test as to whether I can indeed write so many words,I did manage to finish it before the final day.When I took up writing the novel,I had no idea how it was all going to shape up.I just wrote on a day to day basis having calculated that I will have to write at least 1500 words on a daily basis.I just poured out all my feelings,anguish,loneliness,-in fact everything I felt.I knew that I was a novice & not creative & hence, I had to somehow pen in so many words if I wanted to succeed.In the midst of all this,I also began to doubt as to how would the novel end.I told my parents & friends the story in brief & asked them to suggest an ending.As the days passed,I realised that I wanted to give my novel an end full of hope- it had to be positive. I did end the novel on a very positive note.In this, I was helped by the fact, that the site wherein this contest was held,used to send us pep talks to keep our spirits awake if not high.

I was relieved, that I had completed the task at hand.I felt thrilled- I was a novelist -so what, if it was my debut novel.Now what ?I thought of approaching publishers with my debut novel but then I had to first get it all in print.My middle class upbringing forbid me to spend an uneconomic amount on such a pursuit as I had my doubts about the novel ever being even glanced at by a publisher.

I then, came across a site that publishes any book for free but online.So,I uploaded my novel on to the site & then emailed the link to all my friends,ex-colleagues-in fact everybody who was on my mailing list.I requested them to click on the link,sign up & comment as also rate the novel.Few did take the trouble of reading my novel & did as requested .I shall indeed remain indebted to them all my life.But by & large, my novel was ignored by the very people, I thought were my near & dear ones.

The reasons given by many was that as soon as they read the book,they would surely comment but they omitted to state that they neither had the inclination nor the time to heed to my repeated pleas.When I argued, that they can comment in short even in a word or two,they replied, that unless they read,they wouldn't be able to do that.I was elated that by their brutal honesty in these deceitful times ! I was of the opinion that honesty was a relic of a bygone era.

Their frank comments are still awaited. The result, is that my book remains online only.My hubby has very diplomatically steered clear of investing in his wife's venture by saying ,"It is better that some publisher takes it up-they are experts -they will market it as well."

I have realized now, that I erred, by asking people to comment & rate the novel by reading it ! Actually,I am glad in a way, that the book is published online only.Marketing a printed book will be a daunting task given the attitudes,I have come across so far.I am certain, that I will end up paying people who take efforts to read it.

So it is going to be grossly uneconomical, so,I better leave it at that !