Goa's (India) Multiplex

When I was younger, there was just one famousdon't mean any disrespect whatsoever. It is the
theater in Panjim, Goa. It was Samrat-Ashoka.ONLY way to desribe them.) gorging down on
The theater was not worth calling a theater. Ittheir Bhel Puri when the National Anthem is
had those typical noisy fans, a trademark of theactually going on! How on Earth do they even
Mumbai trains. But that was not all. It also hadhave the audacity to do such a thing?! My dad,
some friendly insects, bed bugs. And to top it off,isn't much of a patriot, but when it comes to the
cranky seats.National Anthem, patriotism gushes through his
But this was years back, when I was little. Timesveins as a substitute or blood. He turned to them
have changed. Now, Samrat has reachedand told them, "Can't you see the National
somewhere close to the level of INOX, theAnthem is going on? Get UP!". And they obeyed.
famous multiplex chain around India. Though, stillAnd so did the couple in front of them who
incomparable,Samrat has renovated itself from aoverheard the yelling. It amazes me how people
dump yard, to an Air Conditioned, bed bug free,do not feel embarassed if not respectful. And
Cheese Popcorn serving, sort of Multiplex.honestly, the least that the corrupt Goan
Even with all their changes, when we went to theGovernment could do for their country is, to
theater, my mum felt a rat walk over her feet,position a policeman there to keep a check on
which would be unbelievable, if the guy sitting inone of the greatest crimes committed by the
front of us didn't jump. After that episode, mycitizens of India, according to me.
mum swore to never step into Samrat.I think we humans are born with the instinct of
So now, we are regular customers of INOX. Itgoing for the Forbidden Fruit. Before the movie
felt like entering into another world, when we firstbegins, it is clearly and blodly stated " Please
set foot into the Multiplex. It had a HogDog stand,switch off your mobile phones.". Fine, I dont obey
a fried junk food stand, a pastry stand, a chaatthat rule either. But, I have the sense to keep it
stand, a Baskin Robbins stand and a bookstoreon silent mode. Yet, there are some dingbats who
along with its in house 'Refuel' section selling thenot only "forget" to change the mode to Silent,
typical cinema food like Coke and the threebut, acually go ahead and answer the call and yell
different kinds of Popcorn and Nachos andtheir throat out. Bozos, we haven't paid a fortune
Samosas and all that.to hear you yell your throat out. Use the Silent
Being regular customers at INOX for almostmode in your mobile phone, its FREE!
3months now, I've observed a lot and these areAnd how can we forget the lot of annoying loud
a few of the things that really caught mychewers?! People, haven't you'll been taught the
attention.concept of "Chew with your mouth closed" ?
Coming from a multicultural city like Dubai,Honestly, if we wanted to hear you ruminating like
standing for the National Anthem seemeda cow, we'd go visit the tabelas (cow shed in
different, in a very good way. Standing in honorHindi) and have a marvelous time watching your
for the National Anthem is a sign of respect tobrothers instead of sitting in an Air Conditioned
the country that has given us so much and askedMultiplex.
for nothing in return. But, in those 3 months ofBut even with all the nonsense that happenes
visiting INOX, I've seen that there is always thosethere, we still like going there. The enjoyment
"cool" few who won't stand for the Nationallevel decreases a tad bit when you don't have
Anthem. One such incident that comes to mythese morons who add a little color to your
mind is a family of three, all overweight (No, Imovie day, I suppose.