Tuesday, May 5, 2009

National anthem before a movie?



The first movie that I saw outside Delhi was Gupt in Jaipur.My favourite Hindi suspense movie although it was ruined by my brother because he told me who the killer is in the intermission because he happened to know it and wanted the suspense ruined for me too.(Yeah older siblings can be like that!) This was when I was very young,maybe when I was 10.

The second experience happened when I watched Taare Zameen Par in Mumbai. Me and Parinita went for the movie at Chitra. The tickets were cheap as it was the morning show(unlike Delhi,godamn ripoffs here!) and the seats were good and comfortable too.

The usual waiting for the movie to start was taking place when suddenly the national anthem started playing and everyone stood up.I was confused what was happening.There is no national anthem played here before a movie,heck the last time I heard the national anthem before me was in school! Not only was the national anthem playing something new for me but also the feeling of seeing everyone standing up was thrilling.Even the rowdiest of the lot were standing as a mark of respect.

Now I thought,it was just a small theaters thing and it won't happen everytime and not in a multiplex for sure.I was wrong.The national anthem played at PVR too when we went to see Madagascar 2.So it was playing in small and big theaters both and irrespective of the language of the movie.

Am not saying I didn't like it and think it was great.I just think is this the best form of showing respect to your nation,before a movie? I bet not even half of them would even watch the parade on the 26th of January or be up early for the flag hoisting on 15th August.So what is the purpose or the essence of having this national anthem before a movie?

Also,since I've not seen movies anywhere else so would love to hear if the national anthem is played before a movie in your town or no? Even if you're outside India,do you have your national song played before a movie?Would love to know :)

24 comments:

  1. At the expense of sounding unpatriotic, I hate it when they play National Anthems before the movies.
    You're sitting there, curled up comfortably, popcorn in one hand and coke in the other. The last thing you want to do is stand up.
    Besides, standing up for the National Anthem is really not my idea of patriotism.
    Whats the point of you stand and sing along, but you can't be a good citizen right?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Exactly.I was hesitant to stand up that time because I could be sitting down and singing the national anthem.Why is it necessary to stand up?Can't I just place my hand on my heart and be over with it?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I only roll between Mumbai and Delhi so I don't know if it gets played anywhere else :P

    Personally, I hate the anthem before movies too. At times I just don't get up. I love the angry glares of "aaj kal ke bache" .. Haha.. but seriously, I don't get the point. I don't need to sing a song before a movie to show I love my country (if at all!)..

    ReplyDelete
  4. So we have two votes against(not that its a petition!),if we don't count mine.

    I love the glares of "aaj kal ke bacche",its so much fun!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You're just complaining 'cause you're too lazy to stand.

    P.S. Boo Delhi!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am lazy I won't deny that but why do you have to stand up to show your patriotism? Its like you're standing on one hand and hate your country on the other.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yeah Loopy you're right but that's the whole issue.Does standing up count as a sign of respect? I mean why do you have to show it? Like I mentioned you could be standing up,singing the anthem and inside you're thinking,"This is so e-ffing boring.I wanna see the movie!".

    And the hand on the heart part was just to alleviate the laziness level :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Not to sound out of place here but I really love the national anthem video that they play in the Mumbai theaters. I was really surprised when it happened to me when I was visiting Mumbai but I truly loved the video!

    Actually, now that I think about it, it kinda diverted my attention from what the movie was about and it took me a moment to refocus my attention to the movie -- I guess because I was taken aback.

    In any case, I like the video. My vote...not that it's a petition.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't really think they show a video along with the anthem.Don't remember that.But the fact of the matter is that whether its a good thing or not..Both as a viewer of the movie and as an aspect to play the national anthem in a movie theater.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I bet the people who put the anthem there must not be standing up themselves. Look, if one wants to be patriotic there are numerous ways to start like not littering the aisles (its like waling through a back alley!!!) or to be considerate of others (don't talk or laugh out loud during the show and put those damn phones to silent!!!) There are many more ways which I think we all know but seldom care to follow. Point is, if someone cares for the Anthem, don't disgrace it by playing it right before some guy or girl is about to shake her butt on screen.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I could only see the audience in question and all of them did stand up. From children to teens to married adults to oldies, all of them! Which is great in the sense that at least they pay respect at certain times. But how many of them stand up due to peer pressure is unknown. At least, I for one did stand up because Pari told me to. As for the points you raised Sparrow, I do believe not littering should be a top priority. As for the other examples, they're confined only to movie theaters which is not the place where the pride and respect for your nation would be tested. Its outside that boundary.

    ReplyDelete
  12. who ever thinks this is stupid and doesnt want to get up
    YOU ARE LAZY AND HAVE NO RESPECT FOR YOUR NATION
    i live in australia
    when i visited india i loved hove they played the national anthem before the movies

    MERA DESH MAHAN

    ReplyDelete
  13. @Anon - I would again mention what I said earlier, its pointless to stand up and yet not be a good citizen of the country. Why do you have to sing the anthem when you don't respect the country?

    ReplyDelete
  14. http://jaynaidu.blogspot.com/


    i to wrote a blog and a friend later gave me this link

    ReplyDelete
  15. NO. Nationalism is a social construct, designed to keep the world population fragmented and constantly fighting each other, in order to fulfill each individual country's government's narrow self-interests.

    I proudly don't stand to make a statement that a 100 year old song for welcoming King George V and its slavish symbolism won't work on me. got it? you better get it. >;]

    why I am going to do it again tomorrow! gonna watch the animated movie 'Brave' with my gf haha

    Dumb Sheeple! Wake up and question reality. Think & Know for yourself.
    That is TRUE FREEDOM, you idiots!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi there, just wanted to say, I loved this article.
    It was practical. Keep on posting!
    Here is my web blog - “blu” electronic cigarettes

    ReplyDelete
  17. After checking out a handful of the blog posts on your web page, I
    truly like your technique of blogging. I book-marked it to my bookmark website list and will
    be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my website
    too and let me know how you feel.
    Feel free to surf my website make money of the internet

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello I am so glad I found your website, I really found you by error, while I was
    searching on Digg for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and
    would just like to say thanks a lot for a tremendous post and a all
    round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don't have time to read it all at the minute but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the superb work.
    Also visit my website bad credit payday loans online

    ReplyDelete
  19. Appreciation to my father who informed me
    on the topic of this webpage, this weblog
    is truly amazing.
    Have a look at my web site :: e-cig flavor cartridges

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello, just wanted to tell you, I enjoyed this blog post.

    It was helpful. Keep on posting!
    Look at my blog post :: gold options

    ReplyDelete
  21. Greetings from Florida! I'm bored to death at work so I decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the information you present here and can't
    wait to take a look when I get home. I'm shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile .. I'm not even using WIFI, just 3G .
    . Anyhow, great blog!
    Also see my webpage - Online Slots Money

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is the perfect webpage for anybody who would like to find
    out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with
    you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a
    subject which has been discussed for ages. Excellent stuff, just
    great!
    Visit my blog post ; best online slots sites

    ReplyDelete
  23. I got this website from my buddy who shared with me on the
    topic of this web page and now this time I am visiting
    this web site and reading very informative articles here.
    Feel free to surf my website - slot games for cash

    ReplyDelete
  24. I am sure this article has touched all the internet people, its really really good paragraph on building up new webpage.
    My web blog - trading options after hours

    ReplyDelete

But what about equality?

AIt is around 1.30 PM in Delhi. The heat is at its peak and it is not even May yet. People have been waiting at the bus stop for quite a wh...