KAHANI... THE STORY WITHIN THE STORY

At every step, in Life, there is a story in store for us… all along, waiting. 

My wife was very keen to watch ‘Kahani’, last morning. She is a huge fan of ‘Bidya’ Balan. Now, why ‘Bidya, and not Vidya’?... Well, for that, you have to watch this Bangla special. In fact, I command (even if you hate me for it) – “You MUST”!

It is such an outstanding movie. Don’t miss it... for even the world!

There is a danger in going for a movie on the basis of ‘Reviews’ like this. Someone, like me, tells you ‘Outstanding’… and, you take the next bus to the Box Office. Then, you watch with those ‘Outstanding-3D Glasses’… and, mostly, come out disappointed. I am afraid, I am trying to generalize… So, I may be wrong. I hope, I am. Please watch, even if some one tells you ‘Pathetic’!

I am a huge fan of Vidya Balan, too. And, after watching her performance in this movie, I felt how true those words are: “Nothing succeeds like Success.”

It is Vidya’s time. She deserves to bask in the Sun… every second of it.

We had watched it on the second day of its release. The morning show was packed with young and old. A friend of us had told, “Don’t miss even a single bit”. Yes, we hadn’t. In fact, the screenplay, direction, cinematography and music – and yes, the performances – would not allow you to move from your seat. Yes, we were nailed to the edge. Except for Vidya Balan, there were hardly any known faces in this movie. I may sound here a lot un-informed… I had not heard of even the Director’s name! 

What makes a great movie? Rather, a great movie experience?

Let me tell you what I feel about this.

First, there should be a story with a heart. Next, some one should tell it well.

Till these two things are not in place, nothing – yes, nothing would work. And, even if it does, by the time you are out of the cinema hall, you will not even remember which movie you have watched!

I still remember, frame by frame, the movies like Sholay, Lagaan, Deewar, Zanjeer, Munnabhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munnabhai, Taare Zameen Par, 3-Idiots and some more. Did they have a story with heart? Yes. Were they told well? Yes. 

So, it is the magic of story-writing (Screen play) and story-telling (Direction) that should make rest of the things fall in place.

The editing must be razor-sharp. The music must be really good. The cinematography must be exceptional. The costume must be great...

And, acting?

That is what makes ‘Kahani’ such a masterpiece. An elderly lady, who was sitting next to us said, “I had come with our family to watch the latest ‘Agneepat’. I told them to leave the theatre in twenty minutes!”

Well, that was a film by a mighty banner and studded with Superstars!

Yet, this time around, while leaving the cinema hall, like the rest of us, the old lady was left speechless, with those dry tears in her eyes. None of us had spoken a single word till we all parted our ways. Perhaps, we did not want any one to step into that personal space of our hearts.

This movie had a soul. It touched us. That was enough!

It was a multiplex in a famous mall. It was the second day of this movie. Yet, the management of this multiplex was so callous on such an important issue. There were five ticket counters in the Box Office space. But, only one young girl to manage the thronging crowd! The lady in front of me had reached the counter and the ticketing machine conked out! A young boy joined her to help… No use. Then, she tried the machine on the next…No, it too did not respond…She moved to the third, “Sorry,” this one too was helpless. 

When all this was happening, the crowd was swelling and the anger, as well. “What the hell is going on?” a very sophisticated-looking young man, with his beautiful wife, shouted from behind. “Stupid lady! Doesn’t she realize it is 10.20 already?” joined another hep lady. “They want us to get ‘aadhi kahani – half story’…” giggled a middle-aged woman. “Where is your Manager?” an elderly man thundered with authority. In between, half-a-dozen people would barge into the window and shout, “On-line booking ka kya hua?”…   “Hello, I am asking you.”… “Are you deaf?”

The girl broke down!

Just then, the boy inside could fix one of the machines. And, suddenly there was a stampede… In that chaos, the lady in front of me was no more the first, and I was no more the second… in the line!

Imagine our state of mind! I was angry within. But, yesterday was a special day… it seems. Normally, in such situations, I see myself getting entangled, agitated and doing what other people were doing. But, I was watching that poor girl yesterday, and how helpless she was. It was not her fault. She had become a nervous wreck… and, all the agitation and anger had made her even more so. Finally, when she was unable to take it any more, she had cried. I was watching, from the ringside, all that was happening. I did feel like telling those gentlemen and gentle-ladies, “Please, let us not put that girl under more strain…They will start the movie late.” (And, they did start half-an-hour late, yesterday!). But, had I said that, I would have got entangled with them. I simply detached myself and watched the ‘drama in real life’… this story with in the story!

I, somehow, got our two tickets. Even after getting inside, we had close to twenty minutes to chill!

The sky did not fall!

While coming home, 


we were all happy that 


we had a fantastic movie -


with a heart, with a soul… 


We had laughed, we had cried. 


We had a fantastic day; 


yes, we had.
  

I remembered that girl on the conked machine. She too had cried. She too had a day ahead to look for… 

I really wondered: "What kind of day the poor girl must have had?"

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.1: Amit Bhoir Pic.2: Viraj Jejurkar

P.S.  Have a fantastic Sunday, dear!