It is been a year since we started this blog (with much fanfare & planning & grandiose / ?overambitious intentions to write so much!!!) but sorry, there weren’t (m)any posts.
Today being the marriage anniversary day of our parents, a few thoughts. This is a momentous time for the family for at least two reasons – Bhaskar is (quietly) celebrating his 60th birthday but more important, his daughter Swara’s next Hindi film has released – she has played a role in Tanu weds Manu – as Payal, the heroine’s friend. She has quite a meaty role in this film pairing Madhavan with Kangana Raunat.
So thought would talk about movies and our parents. My father was not much of a movie goer (was it because of the financial constraints in the family) though much later in life, he would watch the weekly Doordarshan movies on TV. But mother was an avid movie fan who had her own list of favorites from ANR (& NTR), Savitri, Bhanumati to Sobhanbabu and Ramyakrishna (in Sutradharulu) and Kamal Hasaan.
The first mention should be about a movie offer which came Dad’s way while in Poona – it was a major role in a Telugu I believe (don’t think it was the hero, though) but he (wisely?!) declined. We always felt proud that he got an offer.
Mum and Dad had seen very few films together. They must have seen some films in Poona – I think they did a movie or two in English based on dogs – Lassie Come Home – they would frequently reminisce about the movie. (Read the story of the film and the dog Pal on Wikipedia)
They didn’t see many movies in Vizag – in fact, the two went out together so rarely that it was often said that if the two ever went out together, there would be some catastrophe – a cyclone or an earthquake!! (Dad would of course take us to the circus regularly.) In fact, once Mum and Dad and we two children (Lakshmi & Ravi) went to see a circus – and guess what – there was a fire accident and we came out – we watched a movie instead– Kodalu Diddina Kaapuram I think with Savitri & NTR. The two also took us to some other movies like Sampurna Ramayanam if I remember right.
Mum would of course regularly visit the movies – with us children, with Rukmini pinni and with her friend – Nanda’s mother – Officer’s wife – who lived across the ground at One Town area and later with some colony ladies. In fact, we went to a lot of movies when Rukkupinni would visit us – and Dad would often admonish us for seeing so many movies. Once we went (with Rukkupinni) to a film – Bratukuteruvu (ANR & Savitri) – in Select Talkies later Krishna Picture Palace (now demolished?). The story is same as the later hit – Bharya Biddalu (ANR & Jayalalita & ?Krishna kumari). Anyway, the electricity went off after about an hour, and, the hall management gave us tickets for the next day’s evening show. Again, the next day, power went off and again we got tickets. This went on for 3 days (and we were watching the same first half hour or so everyday!!) and we got to see the full movie only on the fourth day! (with the same tickets!!).
Another evening, while returning from Select Talkies, Mum fell into a ditch on the side of the road but luckily was not hurt. Dad was furious that we went out to movies and were injuring ourselves. At home, we soon realized Mum had dropped her small purse-bag (a light green one given by Rukkupinni) – and we trekked back to the hall in the night with a torch – and guess what – found it in the gutter – wettish but intact – we brought it back – and I think we still have it at home!! Mum would often remember this incident – she kept her inhaler capsules in that bag!!
The other major story about movies in the family is Meena – the Telugu movie with Krishna & Vijayanirmala based on Yaddanapudi’s novel – Mum, Kanni, and we two kids went to watch it in Navrang Theater near Poorna Market. Kanni was pregnant with Cuckoo at that time. After the movie was over, there was a minor fire accident – and the people were hurriedly sent away from the scene – we, with pregnant Kanni came back in a rickshaw. We went to bed and woke up next day – Kanni in her inimitable style, folded up her bed & cot (madata mancham) and others’ beds and then declared that she was having labor pains – we rushed her to KGH and she later delivered Cuckoo! (Did the fire precipitate labor pains – dunno – but it was not a premature labor).
Later in 1980 when Bhaskar and Ira visited us in Vizag for the first time, we all went to Khoob Surat (in Rama talkies) with Rekha being the youngest daughter in law who brings about much needed change in the family. It is a hilarious movie that all of us enjoyed and Ira fit right into the family as she enjoyed the movie just as much as her mother in law !!
So much more to write about movies in our family – but now the thing we are all excited about is Swara in the movie – what would have been Dad & Mum’s reaction to her on the silver screen. Dad may have objected initially and scolded us but maybe would have later given in to ‘pegu’ & ‘kaapeernam’ and watched it!!
Mum would have been thrilled I guess, though not sure how she would have reacted with the cigarette scene......however, in her typical fashion, Mum would have justified everything saying "Paapam, adi emi chesthundhi, aa director yelaaga cheyyamante alaaga chesindhi......" which means "Bechari (poor thing) what can she do, she can only do what the director would have asked her to do" and thus dear bamma would have supported her dear grand daughter !!
************
Kanni's post - Feb 28th 2011 -
Father had a cycle in Poona , with seat behind for adult, and a brass bucket in front with cycle lamp -- with an oil wick, kerosene to burn it and a glass case to protect the lamp from being blown out.
Just imagine - close your eyes and see picture.
He would take us on the cycle - Mum behind (maybe she wanted to sit in front like the heroines in movies) but I would be sitting in front - and Dad would take us to Band Gardens or Simhagadh.
Mum would bring chapatis and potato curry; Mr.Rama Rao (our family friend whose big table we used to have at home - called 'Ramarao gari balla') - used to come on his cycle too along with wife and children. And we used to enjoy together. No photos in those days but I really treasure those moments and can just sit and picturise them in my mind even today.
I am glad that Sridhar too has bought a cycle to take his kids along on it to the beach; Once he and Srishti hired a cycle to ride with their kids in the kids' seat while they pedalled along the beach.
Nice moments for families to cherish forever.
***************
No comments:
Post a Comment