Monday, September 14, 2009

Sound Of Music On A Railway Platform

.

When my children were small, we were in Bangalore. Whenever a good children's movie or Disney movie was released, I used to take my two sons (the children were around 2 and 4 year olds), to watch these movies. Most of these types of movies were released in Rex theatre, which was/is in Cantonment (the children's movies were tax free too, in those days!). From Majestic Bus Terminus, we used to go by Double Decker Bus (the children always preferred to sit on the upper level of the bus. Most of the time, it was empty and these two would run here and there and peep out to watch the miniature vehicles from the window and I can still hear their laughter (the year must have been around 1980-81). Don't get shocked - I used to buy each, a bunch of raw groundnut plants - and eat the seeds all the way to the theatre. The plants were always clean as far as I remember. My children had always been healthy and I don't remember them falling sick after eating the raw nuts. I don't think I will let anybody else, whether they are children or adults, to buy these things and eat without washing, now!

We had seen 'Snow white', 'Jungle Book', Charlie Chaplin movies, 'Sound of Music' and many other movies in that theatre. We used to have cakes and ice creams in the 'Nilgiris shop' at the ground floor of the theatre or next door, I don't remember exactly and come back home by auto. We enjoyed those days...which will never come back! When my friend sent me this video, I remembered those happy days and wanted to share them with you!

Now read this and watch the video. I noticed that some readers are not able to open the videos and so I am giving the URL too.

All the dancers and onlookers are looking so happy, here!

More than 200 dancers were performing their version of "Do Re Mi", in
the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created
this amazing stunt! Those 4 fantastic minutes started on the 23rd of March
2009, at 08:00 AM. It is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television
program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role,
in the musical of "The Sound of Music".


My whole family will go down memory lane, while watching this video...hey sons, have a look! Thank you for the happy memories!

.

43 comments :

Solilo said...

Sandhya, This too didn't get updated on my reader but I came to check your reply to previous post and saw this.

So yay! FIRST. :D

Thanks for sharing that video and memories. Early 80s with small children must be so much fun. I think nothing has changed. I too get excited when we take our little one for her movies.

Memories are all we are left with and memories are what brings smile to our misty eyed face.

Sandhya said...

Solilo: Yes, you are No.1, Solilo!

As soon as I saw this video, I went back and with a huge lump in my chest, I wrote this post.

'Memories are all we are left with and memories are what brings smile to our misty eyed face.'

My eyes are wet again, Solilo!

Renu said...

sandhya , you have been tagged.

lostworld said...

Hey..came here from Swaram's page.

When I was a kid, I still remember my brother & I loved the double decker bus too. Once, I got climbed down in a hurry and got off at an earlier stop. Was so scared as the bus took off with my mom & bro. I stood there for a long time (my mom screamed from the window asking me to stay there).. LOL

The video was GREAT! :)

Swaram said...

That ws a gr8 trip down the memory lane :)
Rex, Nilgiris, the double decker buses, I cn so identify with each one of them Sandhya :)

Lovely video :)

Thanks Sandhya for this wonderful post!

R. Ramesh said...

so u should have ben singing happy days r here again..thumbs up..lol..

kanagu said...

Nostalgia :))

its always good to relive in those happy memories which we can't get again.. that too with family and friends.. its bliss... :)

and I am not able to watch the video now.. will watch them later :)

Sandhya said...

Renu: I will do the tag, Renu, shortly.

lostworld: Welcome here! It must be scary plus funny, when you think back that moment, right?! Nowadays, because of so much exposure, children don't express so much happiness for anything, I think. Even now, when we go to Bangalore, my son gives a BIG smile, if he catches a glimpse of the Double Decker bus! Thank you!

swaram: Yes, I know, Swaram! You will enjoy reading this post about Bengaluru! Namma ooru, namma oore, yaavaagaloo, alwaa?

Ramesh: Thank you!

kanagu: Remember to watch the video, you will like it, Kanagu!

Kavita Saharia said...

Sandhya..what a lovely and touching post,you sure have some very special moments with your kids..it reminded me of my parents...nowadays we avoid going to cinema halls becoz there is always a risk of bomb threat...i have a huge collection of such dvds which we do watch ...but going to a hall is another experience,i wish things were different here.This clip is awesome...amazingly awesome...you always dig out gems for us...thanks for being so sweet.

radha said...

I am so glad I found your blog - came from Of Cabbages and Kings - the movie has lovely memories for me too.I must have seen the movie a dozen times and know each song and almost all the dialogues too. And the clip was just amazing. These days of course, I hardly watch movies.

SG said...

Nice blog. As the song goes:

Memories,
Like the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
of the way we were

hitch writer said...

Memories.. !! sigh... !!!

I remember Jungle book... very clearly... I saw that movie in the cinema hall 4 times... they also were selling its comics in the theatre then... mowgli and bageera and sherkhan were favourites from then.. Baloo was like an ICON !! lol...

Sandhya said...

Kavita: I feel very bad while reading the problems you face there, Kavita. Thank god, it is not yet so bad over here, in the South.

Actually, this post was not planned at all. As soon as I saw the video of 'Sound of Music' I remembered the days we were going to the movies with my children. The younger son was very small and he used to stand on the seat and jump, clapping his hands, if he was excited by some scene. No one shouted at us but were laughing at him. I still remember the day we went to see 'Madhumati' in Leo theater, I think. When the song 'aajaare ....pardesi' came, my son was shouting 'amma neenga paaduveengale...amma paattu, amma paattu'! Means 'Ma you sing this song...maa's song, maa's song'! I have taken them to many many children's movies in those days. Amar Chitra Katha and these movies were the main entertainment. TV came later to our home.

I love to read your posts too. I know Assam better, through your blogs, Kavita.

Radha: I too am glad to have a good friend like you! I have read your comments in Manju's blog, whom I respect a lot.

We too watch this movie and 'Gods must be crazy-II', when we have a family gathering at home. My nieces love this and we have never got bored after seeing this again and again.

I too rarely have patience to watch movies now. Just watch some, if I know that the movie is worth watching. Otherwise get bored very easily. Recently watched 'Marle and Me' and loved it. One labrador (dog) movie and cried a lot after a long time.

Sandhya said...

SG: You have selected beautiful lines from the song. Thank you.

hitchwriter: Jungle book is a classic. We have seen it thrice in the theater! Watched the serial also ...jungal jungal pathaa chalaa hai...chaddi pahenke phool ... my elder son's favourite song.

manju said...

Sandhya, this post really made me take a trip down memory lane!

When my children were very young we lived in the City area of Mumbai with movie theatres nearby.

I remember many fun afternoons going to see children's movies with them.

The video clip is amazing- thanks!

Aparna said...

Watching movies in a theatre was a momentous occasion for all of us as TV and video were not there in most homes.
I remember eating chana plants as kids. In Delhi where I grew up, the veggie sellers would stock them and the kids loved eating them. I am sure up north kids still do that, may be not in metros, but in small towns.
The video was lovely. I remember watching the film with my parents. 2 years back we were in Austria and we went specially to Salzberg to see where the scenes from the movie was shot. Very nostalgic.

Anonymous said...

Nice remembrance post.. I toooo love Sound of Music sooo much..I love all the songs especially the one in this video.. had watched it when I was very small with parents.. Lion King is another such movie to remember.. we reached the theatre late and missed the starting :)) The video was great..

Sandhya said...

Manju: Everybody here are going down memory lane! I am very happy that all are enjoying the video too! Thank you, Manju. This blogging gives us an opportunity to record our thoughts about anything and everything. Isn't it wornderful?

Aparna: The raw ground nuts were green in colour. I don't see them now, in Bengaluru.

Yes, nowadays, we go to the theaters very rarely. It was a big occasion in those days.

Did you really see the place where this movie was shot? I remember reading that this film was made in Austria. Nice.

evanescentthoughts: Yes, The Lion King was a great movie. I became emotional, while watching it, I still remember! Did you watch the missing part later?!!!

R. Ramesh said...

thanks S..blessed to have yr frindship..

Anonymous said...

yep after I grew up, we bought a VCD and now I have byhearted the movie.. watched it some 100 times :D

Sandhya said...

evanescentthoughts: Good!! The expressions of the characters are unforgettable. I don't know how they bring out unhappiness, anger everything in the cartoons. Now, my son is addicted to 'anime's! Are you?

Saritha said...

Touching post sandhya.I remember my mom took us for the first time in a double decker bus to show us the tallest ganesh.We had a blast that day,after seeing ganesh she took us to the hotel and back by auto.Those days will never come,using a auto was a great thing in those days.

I went out to watch movie 7 years back when i was newly married after that never got a chance to watch.Now i want to take my kids to the cinema hall and show them a movie.

Sandhya said...

Varunavi: Yes, Saritha, going by auto was a luxury in those days. Mode of transport was mostly, bus. So the children were having fun, if I took them by auto, once in a while!

My husband is not able to bear the sound in the theatres now. My nieces have grown up and off to colleges in different cities. I used to take them to the movies when they were coming home to stay, during their school holidays. All the children have grown up now....boring!!!

Take your children to some good children's movie, when you come to Hyderabad, Saritha. All of you will enjoy and remember it, for a long time.

Anonymous said...

That is a cool song... and excellent coordination between the dancers.. Thanks for putting up that video. We never saw much of English movies, only the superhit ones like Jurrasic park, Independence day etc. When we were very young, I and my brother used to cry a lot asking for every thing that we saw on the way. So, we were not taken to the theatre much :-P

Destination Infinity

Sandhya said...

Destination Infinity: I am not a good story-teller. So I was reading amar chitra katha for them and was taking them to good childrens' movies. TV was not there at home and later on when it came, only DD was there. Today my son was mentioning about Hindi Sci-Fi serials, Indra Dhanush and Sigma. Nowadays, too much choice is there.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful video,Sandhya!!The movie is one of my all time favorites.And its so amazing,isnt it to know that music in its entirety is based on just those 7 notes!

It was so nice of you to have recounted your memories with us,Sandhya.Certain instances truly transport you back into a reminiscing mode and make you realize how much you cherish those gone by years in your life!

Thank you so much for sharing this :)

J P Joshi said...

Passing through....came here from Renu's blog. Enjoyed the post and the video. Saw it twice along with my wife...brought back memories .... the enactment of this song on the railway platform was really good.

Sandhya said...

Deeps: What is say is so right, Deepu!

'music in its entirety is based on just those 7 notes!' - This is the reason, mostly, music lovers like all types of music - some people don't like loud music, that is all.

As soon as I saw the video, I went back to those days, Deepu. I never thought that those days would become so important, in the later years, when I was in that period. Thank you.

J.P.Joshi: Welcome here, Mr.Joshi and I am happy to know that you enjoyed the video and my post. Everyone who commented here, went back to those days, I feel. Readers who are young, went back to their childhood and people like me remembered how they took their children to the theatres...! I remember watching 'Hatari'....the only English movie, I saw when I was very very young!

Nice to know that you saw the video together with your wife and enjoyed.
Thank you.

Kavita Saharia said...

Sandhya,
hello...a lot happened i last few days,my husband wants me to continue and many relatives,friends thought that the process of promoting the beauty of our culture and customs must not stop...now the solution..hmmm...two bloggers Aparna and Sujata are joining my page...more to read and less stress on me.I have come to you for thanking you for understanding me ...you are a wonderful wonderful friend .regards.

Kavita Saharia said...

I will try my best to make you write in my blog one day as a very special guest.

Anonymous said...

I have a tag for you at my site.. take it up if you like it..

Sandhya said...

kavita: Everyone passes through hurdles like this, Kavita. What you are doing is a good job. Really, no one, here, esp. in South, knew so many things about Assam, that you are mentioning in your blog. Keep it up.

I am not a great writer. Some subjects are my favorites and if I write on them, they seem to come out nicely. Anyways, thank you. Take care.

evanescentthoughts: Will check it now!

Anonymous said...

I didn't find it updated on my blogroll :(

I have similar memories of movies I used to get my kids to watch, although we used to watch the videos at home :) Jungle Book is an eternal favorie, my kids watched it too! So is Sound of Music, we used to sing all the songs together... I think mothers are lucky to have such fun-filled memories!

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! Watched the video, it's simply amazing!!!

I didn't expcet tit to be so awe inspiring, love how it started, with just two people first!!! And loved the people's reactions!! These guys do brilliant choreography!!! Superb!! Thanks for sharing Sandhya!!

Sandhya said...

IHM: We have got so many sweet memories of those days and we have started already talking about those happy days.. We had to plan so much for going to a movie and every single movie was an experience by itself. We used to discuss about it for atleast one week, afterwards!

Yes, I loved the video and wanted to share it with all of you, IHM!

Anonymous said...

That was so lovely, Sandhya!

I love Sound of Music and this song is lovely! The way they performed is so beautiful! I felt like dancing along with them! Thanks so much for sharing.

And the way you enjoyed with your sons, sounds so wonderful! Am sure they will cherish those memories just as much. Rex - we have gone there too :) Double decker bus - I remember the first time I got on one.. as a child, these things are so huge! Even now, Poohi loves getting on buses - she finds it far more intriguing than cars :)

That was such a lovely lovely read!

Sandhya said...

wordsndreamz: The choreography is so good in this song. The way the passerby people joining the dancing crowd, so naturally and look at their expressions...beautiful, isn't it?

I think the thrill/suspence of those days are not there now...we take our children by car in a confined space, get down, watch the movie (if they are not familiar with them by watching the clippings in TV, they will be luckier to enjoy!). Again, Hosur memories, Smitha! Our 3-4 family friends had watched many movies together - all of them had 2 children each...spending money was restricted, but the children and we, elders enjoyed life, fully!

Anonymous said...

I have an award for you at my site :)

sujata sengupta said...

sandhya first time on your page. It was a nostalgic journey down the memory lane, reminded me of the 80s when i was in school and all the trains and platforms that were such a part of our lives then

~PakKaramu~ said...

Pak Karamu visiting your blog

Sandhya said...

Sujata: Welcome, here! We can never dream of an empty platform,hereafter, at any time of the day!

Anonymous said...

I mentioned this video on Sraboney's post a few days back ... loved it and enjoyed watching it all over again (I have it downloaded on my computer now)!

Sandhya said...

IHM: Happy to know that you enjoyed the video. I am watching it again, now!

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