Movie Dates, Bangalore and Them

A tryst of almost two decades with change and a city.

This flash essay is part of a collaborative, constrained-writing challenge undertaken by some members of the Bangalore Substack Writers Group. Each of us examined the concept of ‘BANGALORE’ through our unique perspective, distilled into roughly 500 words. At the bottom of this snippet, you’ll find links to other essays by fellow writers.

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Image Credit: Priyanka Sacheti

They didn’t bunk school that day, it was the second Friday of their Summer vacation. And it was their first date. They were there to watch - The African Safari at the Galaxy Theatre. She picked the snacks: two hot onion samosas, a warm mango flavoured soft drink with no straws and corn puffs. He could only afford to spare time and give company.

Image Credit: Deccan Herald

Thus, began their adventure on the evergreen cityscapes of Bangalore in the late 80s. Week after week, a new movie. Some times a repeat watch. Some days a morning show and a matinee, back to back. Language, no bar. Urvashi, Narthaki, Poornima, Nataraj, Kapali, Sangam, Shivaji, City and Pallavi Talkies for Regional movies. The Plaza, Blue Moon, Blue Diamond, Symphony, Rex, Galaxy and Lido for English. Both watched with jaws dropped and unblinking eyes. If the house was full, they shared a seat. Back then Bangalore could fit under one’s soles if you had the time. BTS Bus or an Auto ride, if they didn’t have enough time to walk. Every vacation, they both knew how to mercilessly kill time without ever once feeling guilty. And they also knew how to make the best of their boredom when at home. She was naturally the better storyteller, amongst the two. Also, the best in making piping hot snacks for the evening. Lunch was optional and they would make do with whatever they could. No matter their plans, they were back home a little before his parents would return from work.

Occasionally, they would go to Bal Bhavan, Town Hall, Kalakshetra for plays and then Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium for star gazing and planet spotting. Better still, at times, they would visit the Aquarium, later buy a burnt corn on the cob at Cubbon park and amble down to Vidhana Soudha to sit on the stairs and watch vehicles pass by on both sides, even though Dr. Ambedkar clearly pointed one way.

They didn’t have to bunk school this day, either. It was the early 2000s, the second Saturday on a wet June afternoon. This was, perhaps, their last date together. He had moved on to college and she had retired as the Headmistress from school. They were there to watch - Alaipayuthey at the next door - Poornima Theatre. She picked the snacks: two hot onion samosas, a chilled mango flavoured soft drink with no straws and corn puffs. He could only afford to spare time and give company
#acstory

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Here’s list of other flash essays of Substackers from and about Bangalore:

• Looking Down over Bengaluru by Vaibhav Gupta, Thorough and Unkempt

• Blossom Book House, Bangalore by Rahul Singh, Mehfil

• A Walk, A Pause by Mihir Chate, Mihir Chate

• Bookless in Bangalore by Vikram Chandrashekar Vikram’s Substack

• Bangalore: A personal lore by Siddhesh Raut, Shana, Ded Shana

• Bangalore,once by Avinash Shenoy, Off the walls

• My love story with Bengaluru by Rakhi Anil

• Bangalore Down the lane of History by Aryan Kavan Gowda, Wonderings of a Wanderer

• Nagar Life by Nidhishree Venugopal, General in her Labyrinth

• Belonging by Shruthi Iyer, Shruthi Iyer

• The Street Teaches You by Karthik, Reading This World

• The Wild Heart of Bangalore by Devayani Khare, Geosophy

• A Love Letter to Bangalore by Priyanka Sacheti, A Home for Homeless Thoughts

• Between Cities by Richa Vadini Singh, Here’s What I Think

• A Haven? Awake in Bangalore, by Lavina G, The Nexus Terrain

• My love affair with blue skies by Sailee Rane, Sunny climate stormy climate

• A City That Builds Belonging by Sathish Seshadri, Strategy & Sustainability

• There and Back Again by Ayush, Ayush's Substack