"Watching" movies

It is never about movies per se-- few have truly affected me. Mostly it is about watching it—how, when, with whom and my thoughts in those moments that make movies special. Watching movie is like a social experience for me.

Like when we college girls watched Basic Instinct in a theatre—how we whistled and giggled and pretended to be Sharon Stone afterwards. Or how we watched 9 ½ weeks together in a room and laughed and laughed over the making out around chocolate sauce and how exciting it was to talk about sex openly. Or when I watched my first adult movie in public alone as a 17-year-old—the uncut version of The Piano at a film festival.

Or watching Roja with girlfriends and falling in love with Arvind (I swear he had similarities with my boyfriend at that time). I remember feeling nostalgic when I was once hair-width close to hosting a press conference for the actor (the sigh remains).

Or proud moments like when I waded through knee-deep water to a see an Indi movie at Nandan, Kolkata. Or watching movies day in and day out as a teen International Film Festival delegate—each movie alone. Or when I chose to watch a very serious Indi movie, bang on a weekday afternoon in Pune, for the specific purpose of being far-from-the-madding-crowd, to realize that the only other person in the hall has chosen to sit next to me.

Or taking my student, who was scared of horror movies, out to see Grudge and laughing all through the horror scenes. Or watching Frozen with my professor.

Or watching a Harry Potter movie with a bunch of kids. It was more fun watching them than the movie. Or watching a children’s movie with my niece and answering her very-many questions.

Or eagerly watching all Oscar nominated movies in time for the big Oscar party and having a favourite to declare there. I don’t remember the movies today but I can still feel that pride of having an opinion on something that I will never have power upon.

Or binging on movies the whole day—one after another. 24 movies a week during University examinations. 4-5 movies a day on Netflix after I finished my Ph.d. thesis. Movie binging every time I am low down.

Or movies dates. Very very few unfortunately and mostly ughhh! Once had to run in between a movie to avoid being discovered. Another time, the guy refused to hold my hand. Yet another time the guy was desperate to hold my hand and I didn’t want to.

Or walking out of movies. There is an adrenalin rush when you get up in middle of a movie, after making suitable noises that allow your row mates know of your displeasure and then walking out. I have walked out of several movies in my lifetime. And each time I have felt like a heroine exiting after an encore performance.

So yeah, I love watching movies...or rather “watching”.