It’s
a rarity to see mom and dad going for a movie together. But now, when the whole
world and beyond speaks about Kaakkaa Muttai and their own son has
written a review after enjoying the movie thoroughly, the ultimate duty of
parents is to go and watch in the theatre, right?
Fate
had its own plans. If a comedian could’ve created chaos within a serene family,
it sure is to be Santhanam, for Inime Ippadithaan starring this
legendary hero has hit the screens today. At 11:05 AM, five minutes after the
scheduled showtime, my phone rang at home and I was surprised that the tone was
Lukka Chuppi (assigned only for mom). Her voice suggested she was a bit
dejected because the timings were split, courtesy the arrival of the new movie.
Since
The Crow’s Egg was scheduled for the matinee and evening shows, they had to
return back, while I kept cursing Santhanam at home. Apparently, the timings had
been mistakenly printed in the posters throughout the town and dad was
misguided obviously.
This
gave me various thoughts. Inspite of Kaakkaa Muttai getting accolades and being
received well in all centers, doesn’t it deserve a run in the box office for
some more time? Aren’t the viewers ready to accept these kinds of non –
commercial movies? Or, is it the greed of theater owners and distributors to
play second fiddle to the stars in the limelight?
Let’s
get back to our main content now. It would all have ended well had mom and dad
returned home straightaway. But, life sometimes requires a twist from the
routine, eh?
Dad
has been suffering from back spasms recently and a day off from work was meant
to relax and refresh. With the bike ride going in vain, dad was already tensed
up (according to mom). In the meantime, mom had other ideas. She had to meet
one of her colleagues, who had fractured her leg long time back (that the wound
was almost healing). Mom, being extensively caring towards all, had come to a
conclusion that the time can be compensated by visiting the lady, whose family
has been known to us since my childhood.
Dad
didn’t seem to be interested to go there and he asked mom to be ready sometime
soon while he went to attend to some other work. I am surprised by the way dad
lost his common sense (!) at that moment because ladies normally don’t have the
knack of cutting short a conversation (P. S.: The author is NOT a male
chauvinist). When he came back, mom wasn’t ready and he had to wait for a long
time.
And,
this created a sudden bitterness. When I opened the gates for them and smiled,
the same wasn’t reciprocated. And then, when I asked in common, “You are
going for the evening show, right?”, dad just bluntly replied, “I am
not. Maybe, she will.” These are situations a 20 – year – old doesn’t know
to deal with. I just kept blankly staring at them, standing at the alcove and
then drifted off to my room to browse. But then, a flurry of emotions started
running through my mind and I was unable to read online. Hence, the result.
When
I had to stay with some of my friends outside recently, I noticed a lady with a
toddler, buying provisions for the day. Her ragged clothes and the way she was
buying teeny quantities of the groceries showed she (or her husband) should be
a coolie. Meanwhile, the child started crying over something. Apparently, its
fingers that pointed towards a chips packet indicated what it wanted. The mom
was clearly not in a financial condition of getting the child’s need fulfilled
so she started cajoling the child. When even then the child didn’t stop its
weep, the miracle happened suddenly. She kissed the child’s tender cheeks with
soulful love and bingo, it stopped crying! That kiss was not the compromise for
her inability to get the chips packet but rather an emotion – a language – that
conveyed her state of mind to that infant.
Kiss
is not the image of lust, as shown in most of the Tamil cinema. Rather, it is
an epitome of true love, affection, care and belongingness. Kiss is not that
which happens just like that between a half – dressed heroine and a six –
packed hero. Kiss is a symbol, a calm communication of deep meanings. It may be
expressed by anyone, irrespective of age and gender. Kiss is not just the
touching of lips of one into that of another; rather, it’s just a culmination
of emotional wave that gets transferred in a moment. Kiss can be the silent romance
between elderly couple, as shown in Pannayaarum Padhminiyum and O
Kadhal Kanmani. Kiss is more than just a sound and a bit of saliva; it is
eternal music.
After
these of events that happened today, I want to reiterate to mom and dad that by
not going for the movie, nobody but they are the losers. The next movie like
this may take decades or centuries to come out. But more than that, I just want
to tell them, “Please kiss the other only once.” For, it may change
pessimism to optimism, bring in harmony and smiles, make the world come
together. It is a magician’s whip that can do unthinkable miracles.
The
post ends here and as usual, I am going to show this to my parents, who are
always my first readers. I hope for a new dawn to arise…!
