Rowthiram Pazhagu - Learn to get angry

A few months ago, I had booked a couple of movie tickets for my wife and me. It was a Friday evening show, in Fun Republic Mall, Peelamedu, Coimbatore. As always is the case, we managed to reach the theatre only a couple of minutes before the showtime. As we entered the hall, we saw a bunch of people waiting at the entrance and they didn't look happy enough. When asked what was wrong, one of them explained that they could sense a dominant pungent smell right across which looked like coming straight through a rest room. In truth, it could be due to a badly maintained air conditioning system or something similar to that. We checked and we nodded in agreement.

There was a member from the theatre committee listening to people's anguish. Voices went up, viewers who had come from a distance were furious and were rightfully demanding a refund. I neither came from far nor was I really comfortable [call it courageous?] to confront. I was quietly standing along with the crowd, just offering them the support. Coimbatore is not a place with too many different options for people to hangout - therefore, a movie theatre is valued highly in terms of relaxation.

I liked how agitated people were and I loved how demanding they got since these tickets do not come for cheap. While the commotion continued, the operator was living in a different world altogether and started to play the movie. People who had a higher tolerance level and importantly more self-centered, occupied their respective seats and demanded the protestants to move away. "If you aren't interested in being here, please walk out. Let the ones who want to stay back sit and watch the movie" is what I shockingly heard. For me, this is extremely poor attitude. The argument is not about individuals proving their mettle. These are situations wherein we have to stay together and fight. If a certain section of the crowd is ready to accommodate mediocrity, the theatre will continue to take its audience for granted and operate in unhygienic conditions. Regardless of how well or poorly maintained the hall is, they can continue to attract people. This was the message that got communicated by the action of an insensitive group, who wanted to watch. "I have paid for the tickets, I see a problem but I can live with it for three hours, I will enjoy the movie with MY Family and let me go home happily" is what the thought process would have been.

This precisely is one of the top reasons why we continue to live in a country where law is taken for granted, signals aren't respected, roads are littered, water and electricity get wasted and bribes are offered at will. We lack that crucial factor called compassion and justice for all. All we are concerned about is TODAY and US. That has to change. Ask questions when you are taken for granted. Do not think it's someone else's problem. Make people know that you aren't simply dependent on them, the dependency is both ways. ரௌத்திரம் பழகு [Rowthiram Pazhagu] - My favorite statement from Subramania Bharati [Bharathiyar] which approximately translates to "Learn to get angry when things are going wrong in front of your eyes, act upon them". I have been trying to practice this, having missed the opportunity multiple times at work, on the road, within the family and in different situations. I shall surely succeed soon.

The movie went on. We stood in the queue for the refund, collected ours and went home. I didn't ask too many questions, I wasn't vociferous, but we were happy and content that we took a stance against injustice. It's only a movie and was costing us just around Rs 300. It surely doesn't change world politics or international terrorism or corruption. But a fix for all those things start when we begin reacting to situations like these. 

What would you have done if you were in our situation? Fought yourself, be part of the fighting crowd, be part of the "I-have-paid-I-will-watch" crowd or something else?

I will be glad to hear back from someone who was part of this show, especially anyone who stayed back and watched the full movie!