Last week I went to the American Center in Connaught Place, Central New Delhi to check out the kinds of cultural programs they offer. I had planned my visit around late afternoon to coincide with the screening of a Hollywood movie that they were show-casing.
Here's my experience of the event:
1. Security check: Of course, whenever something is related with the US, one should always be prepared for a thorough security check. The only difference is that it's more scrupulous, with bags passing through X-ray machine, no liquids allowed, etc. However, the security staff kindly returned our bottles when we asked for them while going out.
2. Library on the first floor: Since it was already late, I couldn't check out the library in detail. I did manage to quickly browse the Fiction section though. To my disappointment, most of the titles were quite old. Regardless, the library is fairly crowded, so it must have a nice collection.
3. Movies for free!: Well, well, well! When we entered the cinema hall, we did not expect the entry to be entirely free! I mean, not even a nominal charge. Amazing! My first thought was that I should have checked the Center earlier when they were screening cult movies like Citizen Kane, All the President's Men, etc. Well, Homeward Bound should also be ok, though it's a kids movie.
4. Theatre or press conference hall?: Inside they have a press-conference hall converted into a theatre with a capacity of about 80-100 seats. The seats are comfortable, though not plush. The AC is still not on, but there must be some natural ventilation. And hang on, they also offer you bottled cold drinks and crisps at the market price of Rs. 15 - 20. To think, when PVR and similar multiplexes charge drinks and crisps at outrageous prices of about 30% higher than the market!
5. Audience: With a cold drink in hand, I decided to check out the audience. Hmmm. Kids movie, but no kids in sight. No wait, there are a couple of ladies with children. A few foreigners. But artists or students of theatre and drama make up the maximum number. It's a totally different crowd from what you see in PVRs. People are here to see the movie, not to be seen.
6. The movie: It's a little late than 3:3o PM when the movie was about to start. The hall is suddenly full. It's Saturday - half-day. So many people from neighbouring offices have ventured inside. The lights are dim and the AC is working now. The movie begins...
It's a Disney classic telling the story of three pets in a family: Chance, a young dog unfamiliar with the world; Shadow, an aging, wise dog; and Sassy, a snobby cat with attitude. Chance belongs to the youngest son, Sassy to the elder daughter, and Shadow to the eldest son. The movie begins with the wedding of the children's mother to a professor who's based in San Francisco. The family moves to San Francisco for a couple of weeks and leave their pets in the care of a friend. But the friend goes out for some work, leaving the pets in charge of a neighbor. The pets now fear that they've been abandoned and Shadow, who's utterly loyal to the eldest boy, decides to walk back home. Chance and Sassy reluctantly follow.
What adventures they go through, how their friendship blossoms, and how they learn about loyalty, love, and respect from each other on that journey is what this story is all about.
It's a 55 minute movie that packages total entertainment for a family. The voices of the pets are done by some well-known names in Hollywood. I know it was Michael J. Fox for Chance.
The movie talks to the child within us. It talks about loyalty and responsibility in a beautifully narrated story shot across panaromic, beautiful Sierras.
7. Overall experience:
1. Budgeted entertainment: Free movie and lots of options to eat delicacies in Connaught Place
2. Proximity: It's the center of Delhi. Convenient to commute on car. If you want to avoid parking headache, just hop on to any bus going to Kasturba Gandhi Marg in Rajiv Chowk. You can also reach through Metro line 3. It's just 5 minutes walk from Barakhamba Road station.
3. Collection: Enjoy the feeling of watching Hollywood classics from the ambience of a cinema hall. You might discuss and analyze the movie over a cup of coffee with the cute, artist guy nearby!
This week, they've screened some animation movie!
Let me check what they're screening next week...
...meanwhile, you take good care of yourself.
Chao!
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