This is such a lovely thread! Thanks for starting it, Bergin!
Although it's a bit old I can't help sharing my unforgettable experience with
you guys.
My parents and I were on holiday in India for the very first time ( I was 9
years old). We were in most parts of India and finished off in Chennai as part
of a pilgrimage. So our last 3 nights in India were in Chennai and I remember
my mother enjoying all the shopping whilst my dad and I were too engrossed,
absorbing the radiance in the atmosphere of the city. So different to where I
come from but still felt very much like home and I remember not wanting to
leave. On the last night we decided to go watch a movie (my first Indian movie
on big screen) and Roja had just released. I can't remember why we picked it.
Actually everything from this point is a blur except for until Chinna Chinna
Aasai started playing on screen. I remember vividly the feeling that came over
me when Chinna Chinna Aasai started. I think 'happy' would be too simpler
word to use but I felt an extremely pleasant feeling taking over me. Something
beyond words and same for the other
songs and of course the movie itself! My mum loved the songs too. I walked
out of Roja , with admiration for two people*. Two people that I now have the
greatest admiration in Indian Cinema: Rahman and Maniratnam.
I remember being really adamant in wanting to buy the Roja cassette before we
left to the airport. I was literally crying at the hotel reception so my poor
parents were forced to take this crying kid to this Bazaar (not sure what the
name is) to buy the cassette, on our way out of T.Nagar towards the airport.
Mission accomplished, for me- we found it! Unfortunately not everyone was happy
at the end of that day! My parents that is -because we missed the flight back
home! Well, my parents think that we may have made it if I hadn't thrown a
tantrum to buy the cassette and if we didn't have to go out of the way to get
the cassette but I am sure you guys would agree that it was the Chennai
traffic. Not my fault or anything!:)
P.S: I still cherish that first cassette. Although a bit in tatters , it's
still part of my proud rahman collection.
*Actually 3, if I have to be honest (arvindasamy too! ) ;)
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