jayantiblogshere

It is a grey , cloudy and overcast Saturday in Bangalore. Thanks to the Karnataka bandh ( since when did they call for bandh on Saturdays) the  almost traffic less drive through to  Alliance Francaise is a breeze, literally. The old world charm of Allaince Francaise building and the cozy warmth of its auditorium is very comforting.  To think,  I have come to watch a play with absolutely no clue as to what it is all about is  slightly discomforting. Nagercoil Expressum Nadaga companyum   … uh !!!  what sort of a title is that ?. Well … they are two stage plays  and sandwiched between them is a ten minute intermission.   One occurs aboard the Nagercoil Express when two co-passengers Chandru and Shankar get acquainted over a drink only to discover a third passenger and a strange message that awaits them.      The second one,   Nadaga Company is a satire that takes you back and forth...

In Madras movies are not synonymous with entertainment.   It is like religion and is an inevitable part of your life.  In our case, it is a part of our family folklore.  ( Clickhere to read my previous post FDFS )     First day first show (FDFS) of Rajinikanth movies are what legends are made of.  Giant cut-outs of the  Thalaivar  are bathed in milk before the FDFS. Fireworks galore the movie theatres and the police department works overtime to ensure the smooth release of  Thalaivar's  latest films.   I always wanted to  experience the fanatic frenzy that goes with the FDFS,  I pleaded with a die-hard  Rajini  fan who happens to be a good friend, to take me for an FDFS.  Every time a Rajini movie released, he has avoided me and my request.  Here is a guy who spends a good part of his salary to buy an FDFS movie ticket at Albert talkies in Chennai every time a  Rajini  mo...

FIRST DAY FIRST SHOW ( FDFS) 22 nd July 2016 was an auspicious day. Not in its usual sense for it was not a festival like Deebavali or Pongal.   Far more auspicious than Deebavali or Pongal. It was not Deebavali or Pongal. And yet, it was expected that milk would be in short supply and fire crackers would sell like hot cakes. But t hey say it is not like what it used to be in the good old days. For this is how I recall, it used to be in Madras of the good old days. , Summer vacations were never complete without watching the latest Rajinikanth release in  Kabali  or  Kamadhenu  theatre.   Paatti   (Grandmother) would wait for us grandchildren to arrive from Bambaai , so that she could take us for the Rajinikanth movie that had just been released. In other times of the year,  Paatti   would settle for nothing less than the first day first show ( FDFS) of a Sivaji or a MGR movie.  For many y...