The Final Spell

In Patparganj,33-year-old Chhaya Kapoor is throwing a Potter-theme party on Saturday for her eight-year-old son — though it is she who may be a bigger fan of the boy wizard. “I’m making a wand and costume for my son and his friends,” she says excitedly. “All the snacks will have funny names such as jelly slugs,” she adds. Across Delhi,even as huge crowds of Potter fans count the hours (and minutes) before the final film opens,it is also time to get under the skin of Pottermania.

Step into the Portico stores in Greater Kailash-II,and you’d find yourself bang inside a Hogwarts room,where bed sheets are printed with Daniel Radcliffe’s face,hanging from the racks are towels,once again with the actor’s image,and the sofa is stacked with cushions with Radcliffe’s picture. Those who want to wear Potter on their hearts,are making a beeline

for the nearest Weekender store for their personal collection of Harry Potter T-shirts.

At PVR,it is a time for nostalgia for Shalu Sabharwal,VP,Sales and marketing,PVR. Back in 2001,a ticket at PVR Priya and PVR Anupam was priced at Rs 150 and today it is almost double. “When the first film released,the hall was booked for days together and there were barely any cancellations. We hope it will be the same this time,” she says.

Pottermaniacs should look forward to a number of contests at the cinemas — if you have a scar to flaunt on your forehead,or round glasses then you have a chance to win the Harry Potter look-alike contest. Also,look under your seat,you might be seated on the Harry Potter seat,which entitles you to take home lots of gifts as well as be served popcorn by staff dressed in a robe and a hat.

And if you are a fan of the dubbed version of the Harry Potter series,then head to Delite Cinemas on Asaf Ali Road to watch Harry,Hermione and Ron talk in Hindi.

“We’ve always shown the dubbed version and even though the film only lasts a week in the hall,we get 80-85 per cent occupancy every time,” says RK Malhotra,manager of Delite Cinemas. The tickets here are priced between Rs 45 and Rs 110.

Ila Bose,23,another Potter fanatic,sounds a note of skepticism. “The buzz is low this time,maybe because Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 did not live up to expectations. I hope this one will be better,” she says. Not that fans like Tora Agarwala,21,care. She is all set to flaunt a five-year-old shoulder tattoo of Harry’s scar when she attends the Indian

premiere tonight.