Prelude: 'Astu'

When 'Astu' So it be, a Marathi movie was released for the first time four years ago in Pune's Prabhat Cinema for odd timing at 9.30 AM, as an only show, it was expected that it won't reach the target audience. Mumbai for Marathi cinemas in those days was situated in US of A, maybe having few Marathi speaking people, distant cousins of Puneites was the prevalent thought! So naturally, though I longed to watch it, I could not! After many trips to Pune to have at least the DVD I realized, even now, there is a dearth of a discerning audience for meaningful but off the track Marathi cinema, because street smart Cinema like ' Time Pass ' was running to the packed houses even in multiplexes of Mumbai. DVD was just not available. And suddenly one day, I don't know what happened but the ad for Astu's re-release appeared in the daily papers and I felt as if my long-cherished desire was about to be fulfilled.  Though there is a big multiplex bang opposite my home, which does screen Marathi movies, apparently did not have a screen for 'Astu'. So I had to find a distant one. The second problem was of timings. The suitable time, was farther away while the nearer one, was at an odd time, so unsuitable for me. And I realized for a movie buff like me who loves to view good Marathi Movies it's still difficult in Mumbai to arrange for it.

The day I decided to watch it, after making all the arrangements at the clinic I headed for a multiplex in Kurla. And it started raining heavily, so heavily that the wipers were as if the redundant parts of the car. Again Kurla is known for extensive flooding. Mumbai rains, all the odds were absolutely against my watching the movie, but determined that I was I reached the multiplex after driving, hundred to two hundred meters or so in knee-deep water. But I reached the venue well ahead in time. The lovey-dovey couple in front of me in the queue took very long time even to decide which movie to watch. Then there was seat selection, it went on and on. After a long wait when I reached the window and asked for a single ticket for 'Astu' the clerk made the face as if he had heard the name, for the first time. Of course, when 'Sultan' is at the box office who was going ask for a single ticket for 'Astu' When I repeated, he said ' Oh Astu, Marathi Movie ?' in a tone as if I was asking for a fried lizard! He peeped in the screen, then looked at his manager and said  as if apologetically, ' Sir, the projector system of that Audi is under repairs so please enquire again at the show timing.' I got so annoyed and said, ' I know because I am the only patron, you are giving excuses' He smiled sheepishly which gave away him and his excuse! I persisted for the ticket, he asked me to come back again at the show timing. After having a good lunch of chicken burger at Burger King I reached the window again at the given time.

This time he was straight forward and said,' Sir you are the only viewer, so we can not run the show.' I was not angry, but I was firm, persistent and had determined, 'Not to go home' without watching the movie. After treading in knee-deep waters and driving in torrential rains, it was do or die for me! So I reminded him and his manager, the rule by Maharashtra Government that makes the management compulsory to run the Marathi movie show even if there is a lone patron! And it simply worked, both gave in and I entered the Audi with a ticket in hands, triumphantly!