Anybody who has lived in delhi some twenty years ago would remember how DD would show funny movies in the afternoon, every time there was a solar eclipse. For me, solar eclipses are inextricably linked with Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Chupke Chupke for that reason alone. DD would show entertaining movies so that people would stay inside their houses during an eclipse. One cannot imagine pulling off something like this in today's day and age. With so many channels how could any one channel have any power over viewers?
Nevertheless, I feel rather emotional when I look back on the innocence of those times. I was in school then and I remember those summer eclipse afternoons when houses would be completely shaded. We would sit and watch the movie and drink thanda nimboo pani. During the samachaar break, some friends and I would try to make telescopes and spectacles that would allow us to look at the sun indirectly without going blind. I remember trying to use old x-ray paper. I have no idea if that was safe or not but since my eyes seem to have survived those adventures, I am inclined to think it wasn't such a bad idea!Labels: culture, solar eclipse |
