The Lost World
Something is lost. Something is definitely lost. And most probably, forever. Of late, have watched something or the other, which has reminded me of our past. I would say, our past because it is about our childhood, our adolescence, our society as a whole. The late 80s and the whole of 90s. The nation we were.
A song from a recent movie had started it. When I watched the song, it took me back to the 90s. It is shot in Delhi. Somehow the city has always fascinated me. The song ends in the perfect way – in the wee hours of Delhi. I just love Delhi mornings!
Anyways, this is not the point. The point is, it took me back in time. At least 15 years! Things were so different then. There were no mobile phones, no internet, not even cable connection – well for most of us! Still, we managed to communicate well, loved watching TV. Thanks to our parents, had timely and good meals. After school, took a nap, went out to play, met friends, watched TV, and tried studying too. There was a routine - but not boring.
Well, routine is still there. Dragging self to office, cursing the traffic, cursing the city, promising self to get up earlier next day to avoid the traffic, some work and more bitching in office, returning back – again cursing the traffic, and the city, reaching home with a heavy head, checking out maid’s regular food, having dinner while watching a South-Indian-movie-dubbed-in-Hindi and then ending the day with gmail, and facebook if time permits. So, routine is still there!
I may have digressed a little. The problem is not exactly with the routine. Many daily battles were lost in those times too as they are today. The problem is that the simplicity and innocence of life is lost. No, it’s just not a loss for me. It’s a little more than just a phase in every man’s life. Our kids would be living more on facebook than in the real world. For example, there would no more be cult series like Ramayan, Mahabharat, He-Man, Jungle Book, Rangoli, Flop Show or Vyomkesh Bakshi. Anyways, TV is out of question any which ways. The idiot box content has taken a beating, in the last decade, more than the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. The technology, along with its affordability, has increased a hundred times but the quality of content has deteriorated in equal terms. For that matter, radio has definitely improved. Though we miss Ameen Sayani but Jeeturaaj is not bad either for the Radio Mirchi generation.
Coming back to topic. Another movie which we watched later, completely took us back to our childhood. The reference is in plural as a couple of friends felt the same. The first half is good enough to go the theatre. The movie is set in a village in Punjab. No, I am from Lucknow. Never been to Punjab. Been to a village once but hated it. But the movie is shot in a manner that we felt the chill of the North Indian winters, smelt the Earth, loved the vapors rising from cold water, missed the inter-connected terraces of those row houses, and was part of a big family union. Co-incidentally, the movie is set in the backdrop of Indo-Pak friction. Hence, it runs through the decade of 90s. Movie has a stupid storyline but it did make me miss my city, my childhood and above all – the innocence of life – which it was!
A song from a recent movie had started it. When I watched the song, it took me back to the 90s. It is shot in Delhi. Somehow the city has always fascinated me. The song ends in the perfect way – in the wee hours of Delhi. I just love Delhi mornings!
Anyways, this is not the point. The point is, it took me back in time. At least 15 years! Things were so different then. There were no mobile phones, no internet, not even cable connection – well for most of us! Still, we managed to communicate well, loved watching TV. Thanks to our parents, had timely and good meals. After school, took a nap, went out to play, met friends, watched TV, and tried studying too. There was a routine - but not boring.
Well, routine is still there. Dragging self to office, cursing the traffic, cursing the city, promising self to get up earlier next day to avoid the traffic, some work and more bitching in office, returning back – again cursing the traffic, and the city, reaching home with a heavy head, checking out maid’s regular food, having dinner while watching a South-Indian-movie-dubbed-in-Hindi and then ending the day with gmail, and facebook if time permits. So, routine is still there!
I may have digressed a little. The problem is not exactly with the routine. Many daily battles were lost in those times too as they are today. The problem is that the simplicity and innocence of life is lost. No, it’s just not a loss for me. It’s a little more than just a phase in every man’s life. Our kids would be living more on facebook than in the real world. For example, there would no more be cult series like Ramayan, Mahabharat, He-Man, Jungle Book, Rangoli, Flop Show or Vyomkesh Bakshi. Anyways, TV is out of question any which ways. The idiot box content has taken a beating, in the last decade, more than the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. The technology, along with its affordability, has increased a hundred times but the quality of content has deteriorated in equal terms. For that matter, radio has definitely improved. Though we miss Ameen Sayani but Jeeturaaj is not bad either for the Radio Mirchi generation.
Coming back to topic. Another movie which we watched later, completely took us back to our childhood. The reference is in plural as a couple of friends felt the same. The first half is good enough to go the theatre. The movie is set in a village in Punjab. No, I am from Lucknow. Never been to Punjab. Been to a village once but hated it. But the movie is shot in a manner that we felt the chill of the North Indian winters, smelt the Earth, loved the vapors rising from cold water, missed the inter-connected terraces of those row houses, and was part of a big family union. Co-incidentally, the movie is set in the backdrop of Indo-Pak friction. Hence, it runs through the decade of 90s. Movie has a stupid storyline but it did make me miss my city, my childhood and above all – the innocence of life – which it was!
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A funny thought that crossed my mind just now. In those days, good movies used to hit 50 weeks in theatres. Now, in the multiplex era, such movies hit the television screen in less than 50 days.
posted by Procrastination Sucks @ 8:58 PM
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