I’m sure you’ve read reviews or heard enough about Peepli (Live) to read any additional drivel that I spew about the movie. What I’m instead going to testify to is the Gurgaon experience of watching Peepli, and how (as Pavitra Jayaraman mentioned) one “should be paying extra for that experience”, in the light of what transpired.
The movie came highly recommended by Arjun Gera, who insisted that Peepli was quite like Gurgaon and that people living here ought to watch it just for that if not anything else.
I celebrated four months of living in Gurgaon by watching it last evening.
My friends and I left the office and managed to reach the theater and make it just in time to watch the trailers before the start of the movie. The cinema hall was only about 20% full and we settled into our seats.
Soon after the Shah Rukh Khan Airtel ad imploring everyone to keep their mobiles on silent was aired, the familiar Francisco Tárrega piece began playing from somewhere in row behind us and the guy who answered the phone ended up speaking about many things including his inability to have a long conversation because he was at a movie. We could also hear the guy at the other end of the conversation, as could everyone else in the theater.
He was shushed half-heartedly by a bunch of people in the corner who proceeded to make a lot of noise themselves as the movie progressed, but after he hung up the phone, the entire group that he was part of engaged in a loud conversation in Haryanvi for quite a while.
Normally, I’d be among the last people to mask my indignation at such behaviour, but all my friends had warned me that I was better off not being in any potentially confrontational situation, since I didn’t have a gun and most of those that wanted to pick fights had one by default. Plus I’m not known at all for my fighting skills.
Once we knew there was nothing one could do about it, the whole drama that was unfurling in the row behind us added to the movie watching experience. These guys proved to be the best laugh-track for the movie and made for an overall fun experience. Mostly because it seemed like these backbenchers were from Peepli as well, I guess.
Watch the movie with gujjar and jat “bois” (as their bumper stickers so proudly proclaim) and you’ll know what I mean.
Try as I might, I wasn’t able to string together something to connect a Greek orthodox church saint who survived being trampled upon by mules, Italian blue cheese and the protagonists of the movie ‘Small Soldiers’ with where I live and work now. In due time, I guess.
But if you, Dear Reader, can put something together, feel free! My best wishes.
