Not far from our home, the Mahto family lives. When it comes to income, they are much behind the middle class, but not when it comes to aspirations. The patriarch Sanjay Mahto, a hardworking subordinate in a government run planning company, is planning to buy a new Bajaj motorcycle CT-100. Ambitious and proud to show it off, you get the idea when you see the 14 year old Gatti Mahto strutting around in a bleached Armani ( rural India's preferred brand) T-shirt near the city mall. The bleached jeans complementing it fiercely. Though the Armani is not exactly genuine, the young Mahto is not imbecile either. He understands the importance of brands, cares for them and is loyal to them.
It is a Friday, and the young Gatti has persuaded his family to watch a new Hindi movie Housefull. The tired father returns home from office, his khadi shirt still drowned in sweat. The father isn't very sure about the movie. But rarely refuses any request from his only son. Wearing a cricketer's helmet, he takes in a long breath before kickstarting his Bajaj Chetak. He then turns the scooter off realising that his wife cannot be done with her make-up so soon.
He is right. His neighbour's wife gives him a glance of admiration. He smiles and replies- " Going to the movie ". She inquires about the movie and informs that her niece loved the movie. He feels a bit relaxed. Hearing the chatter and chirps, the Wife finishes up her vanity chores surprisingly quick. The excited Gatti is established between the mother and father's seat and the Chetak neighs. They resemble the typical family of an Indian advertisement. The father with a thin moustache, the mother with a face-splitting smile and the inevitable male child in between.
The Bajaj scooter meanders through the staff colony. Sita, the emotionally reserved cow bred by the gwaala of the locality, watches them on. Sita is a bit surprised though. She has never seen the Mahto family, all dressed up, going to watch a Hindi movie together. Good for you, she thinks. She flaps her right ear and then carries on chewing the cabbage pulp in her mouth. The scooter is expertly navigated by the Father, avoiding potholes and the smell of the mutton hanging from the butcher's shop. The sun dusks and the Father secretly decides to end up at the movie hall before the sun is consumed by the horizon. Chetak's right ear is given a punishing twist and Chetak starts to rampage. The scooter on full throttle rips apart the Main Road.The Wife's facial expression turns from expressionless to stiff. The rickshawallahs frown and mumble and reluctantly give room and respect.
The newly opened multiplex arrives and Chetak is given a brake. It gives an autotuned horn in disapproval. The family is dazzled by the multiplex building and the bright lights. The Wife gives the biggest smile and her eyes glitter. The second biggest smile is given by Gatti.
The movie was due to start in thirty minutes.The Father buys three front row tickets and later justifies them saying that the front row seats would provide the 'maximum' entertainment. Just being among the middle class and doing things that they 'do' fills the family with an elated sense of self pride. Sensing the overpriced food items in the mall, the Family goes outside and the three of them have Amul vanilla ice cream which they always enjoy thoroughly.
The three of them are now established on successive front row seats and await for the movie prologue to end while Gatti turns around to stare at other people for no reason whatsoever. The movie begins and Gatti and his mother are totally engrossed in the movie. The comic scenes are enjoyed by the family. The Father finds the dresses of the female actors a bit strong. He does think about abandoning the movie by intermission but does not share it with the other family members otherwise it would ruin the price paid for the other half of the movie. After intermission, and after a second thought, he realises that he is enjoying the glamourous female actors and is a bit perturbed by it too. He later calms down and has a hearty laugh. The family likes the movie.
The Mahto family plans a movie every month now. They don't read movie reviews by Anupama Chopra. They just watch the movies to amuse themselves. More so , they can afford to.
"MOOOoooOOOO" -says Sita in approval.
