Why Do I Like Cinema?

One of my many hobbies is to watch good cinema. I am a member of a film society who conduct workshops and film appreciation events. I enjoy cinema. Many people I know are sarcastic and ironic about this, reason to which I fail to understand. They ask me – Why do you watch so many movies? It’s a waste. I choose not to answer them. But there is always a reason, always an answer for what a person does in his life. Every hobby of mine, may it be traveling, photography, painting, gardening or writing; all have a reason and all have been equally criticized in the recent times.

Movies, among these complete my other interests. When I watch a movie, I understand and like the script; I appreciate the locations, places they travel to; I observe the creative art involved in making the sets; I analyze the cinematography and directors point of view; I enjoy the music; I admire the performances. So in short, cinema is one package that captures, art, theater, photography, travel, writing, music, dance, technology, imagination and several other interests that man has had so far. The least I could say to impress the so called intellectuals is that it is an encyclopedia of general knowledge, not just what you see or know, but also of what humans feel and experience.

May it be the artistic approach in “Vicky Christina Barcelona”, “Hum Dil De Chucke Sanam”; amazing locations in “The Beach”, “Motorcycle diaries”; Brilliant scripts such as “Doubt”, “Moksha” or “The Lesser Evil”; amazing performances in “A River runs through it”, “Dweepa” or “Page3”; Unpredictable twists in “Fight Club”, “Butterfly Effect”; Creative work in “Shrek”; or most natural portrayal of life in “Gulabi Talkies”, “Raincoat”, “Children of Heaven”; all have contributed to enrich my thoughts.

A take away from the movie can be a philosophy handed over, as “The Hours” did to me. Cinema is vast; the level of creativity that can be achieved by them is, I think, Incapable by any other means. Technology and art go hand in hand. But as Virginia Woolf says – “Really I don't like human nature unless all candied over with art”.

And then there are some, who say – I watch movie for just entertainment. That’s all I want from them. If you want to be, only a mere spectator and not an absorber of art, then so be it. But that’s not what everyone else should think dude!