The Lives Less Noticed

May 30, 2014.
Thrissur.

Watched the movie “Bangalore Days” FDFS, as decided earlier. Loved the movie. It’s a clean entertainer. Its not about the movie that I’m writing now. But then, it is about Cinema only.

It was very much crowded by the ticket counter and there was an air of excitement around as it was a much hyped movie due to the wonderful star cast and also for the much acclaimed Director, Producer and Cinematographer. As I was going to collect my reservation tickets, I noticed someone standing in the queue. He would have been around seventy years of age, and was wearing a shabby shirt and a dhoti. He had a pale face and grey hair. This old man was struggling hard not to lose his place in the queue, in the midst of all the young people around. One could easily make out that he wasn't that affluent. And that sight set me thinking. “How come an old man generate such an interest in a youth oriented movie?” The lead actors, the director, the producer, the cinematographer all are young people. And then, I see a seventy year old man who has come all alone in his shabby clothes to watch the movie First Day First Show.

My friend handed me over the reservation tickets. As I was going to enter the theatre hall, I was thinking about the factors that attracted him to the movie. But then, I understood. There are no factors. There’s just one factor. Cinema. The love for Cinema.

Maybe in his youth, he had wished to be part of the magical world of Cinema. Maybe he had fancied a lot, but couldn't reach anywhere as far as Cinema was concerned. Although I felt a little sad imagining that he hadn't reached where he had expected to be, I was glad to see that he was able to be with himself, even though alone. He still keeps on watching movies in the theatre itself. From that point of view, he seemed to be a happy man, as he wasn't missing out on the things that he loved. For a man of his age, that takes courage to do so. And the reason is his love for Cinema. 

There are a lot of lives like these around us. The lives less noticed.

PS: This was my diary note on May 30, 2014.