This retelling is set in a remote desertland of Western Maharashtra were farmers grew cash rich due to one major factor- the diversion of water from the river Godavari to irrigation canals that turned barren land into fertile soil fit enough to grow sugarcane which grows in dry and hot climates but requires water throughout the year.
My father was a teacher in one of the public schools that sprang up following the setting up of huge sugar factories whose management wanted affordable public school education for the rich farmers in the region. Me and my younger brother were students in this all-boys public school.
There was a unique ritual in this public school. As a matter of convention, films were shown every Saturday so that all the boarding students had their dose of entertainment. My father was familiar with the operation of the film projector. So he was handed the task of running the projector as well as procuring films for the Saturday open air shows. My father, being a post graduate in Botany preferred to get educational films mostly on nature of a more didactic nature. He procured these documentary films by corresponding with the Canadian, Australian, German and Russian embassies who had a rich store of documentary films shot on high quality film.
The kids at the school however were not much in favour of these films which they called "daku - military" - a pun on docu - mentary.(daku for dacoit in hindi, and their sworn enemies the military police!)
We brothers however eagerly awaited films on our favorite comic heroes - the Phantom, Mandrake and the like. Walt Disney movies then were yet to gain widespread acceptance in India. One fine day we came to know from the grapevine that a film called - The Phantom of the Opera - was to be screened that Saturday. Expecting it to be a movie on the Phantom - the ghost who never dies... we excitedly waited for the start of the show. Unfortunately we were disappointed to the core as it was no Phantom movie, but rather a soap opera! We went home disappointed, but later were satisfied by the screening of a Tarzan movie and a movie called "Saboo and the Jungle".
Does anybody remember the names of any of the movies mentioned in this post? For I have heard a lot of positive feedback as an adult on Phantom of the Opera, but that Saturday it was just one disappointment for us.
5 months ago