Kuch Kuch…. spins magic in the Valley

SRINAGAR, FEB 10: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is spinning magic in the trouble-torn Valley, especially the womenfolk, by drawing hordes of them to...

SRINAGAR, FEB 10: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is spinning magic in the trouble-torn Valley, especially the womenfolk, by drawing hordes of them to the only cinema hall functioning in the city.

The magic is such that women are throwing all cautions and inhibitions to the wind. They only want to purchase the ticket but are not ready to buy the theory that such liberties may invite reprisals from militants.

Ever since the re-opening of the Broadway Cinema Hall here last year, it is for the first time that any movie screened here has attracted such a large number of woman movie-goers. The ladies’ queue outside the ticket counter is adding in numbers and there is no hesitation on their faces while fishing out Rs 95 as the ticket cost. Most of them, despite having watched the movie on TV screen at home, want to see how captivating is KKHH magic on the big screen.

The ladies’ queue has a good number with faces covered by a veil or the traditional burqa. But many others, mostly pairs, have no inhibition in watching the movie as they were accompanied by their husbands or fiance, even for late evening shows.

When reminded of the militant threat to blow up the cinema hall, a woman who had just vacated the counter after purchasing the ticket said she had simply made up her mind to watch the movie on the big screen. "And why go to Jammu or Delhi when there is a cinema hall here screening it," she said.

"What is wrong in watching a movie here when the video and cable network business is already flourishing in the Valley. There is no obscenity in this movie. It is a clean entertainer and why should one have objection," said another movie-buff.

While speaking to The Indian Express, Ishfaq Ahmad, one of the managers at Broadway Cinema, said KKHH is the first movie to run into fourth week since the hall started functioning again. "For the first three weeks, we had a houseful hall packed to capacity. Many had to return home disappointed and come again the next day. We are reminded of the good old days when you had to book tickets in advance," said a nostalgic Ishfaq.

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Oscar Award winner Titanic sank the very first week of its screening. Hardly any woman turned up for the inaugural show of the reconstructed Broadway Hall, set ablaze in the 90s by militants as part of their ire against film entertainment. Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Kareeb with new-comer Neha hardly proved a crowd-puller.

However, KKHH seems to have finally set the trend of bringing women back to the cinema hall, the way it was prior to the turmoil days.