Pune is the city of the two wheeler (that's what scooters and motorbikes are called in India). Every kind of person drives a two wheeler. Where it's a middle aged woman in a brightly coloured sari, a young IT worker on the latest model or entire families- it's the city of scooting. What is crazy though is the entire family part. A scooter will whiz by with a 4 year boy old balancing on the front, imitating driving a scooter, then dad, then a 6 year old sister, then mum riding side saddle like in the days of old (I guess its hard to straddle a bike wearing a sari) balancing a bangle clad sleeping baby in her arms. This is the norm on Sundays. Whole families going to dinner or to ice cream parlours on one scooter. I don't think I could drive here, so I take my hat off to their balancing skills!
On Sunday we went to the movies. Not to see a Hindi film, (more of that later), but to see a Hollywood blockbuster. An amazing cinema!! It is organised chaos to get a ticket and popcorn (chilly, cheese, caramel, salt, butter and tomato flavours!). Everyone goes to the cinema on Sundays to see the latest Bollywood blockbuster. It is amazing that 90% of the films here are Bollywood films. I couldn't imagine their being should a wide variety of British films. Over dinner with friends people talk of actresses, actors and films we have no clue about. Its like discovering a whole new mystery world of movies. Everyone has an opinion about Preity Zita, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitsheka (?) Bachanan and Salman Khan. Indian music and films are keeping Hollywood at bay. Its great to see a nation keeping hold of its own culture. Anyway, I am going to be introduced to the world of Bollywood with Ash and Mitre, who love all the films, and go every Monday and Friday.
Before each film everyone gets up to sing the national anthem to the picture of the Indian flag. Its' deadly serious and the audience sings with all their hearts. That is amazing…. I knew my mum would love this display of patriotism. Of course there is an interval, heaven help if anyone goes without a snack for more than 2 hours! Seriously though going the cinema here is an experience, and a really enjoyable one.
Back to Bollywood. As a normal shunner of the English cult of celebrity, I am ashamed to admit I am hooked on Bollywood gossip. Everyday in the Times of India there is a pullout section packed with the latest news. Headlines like: "When Reena Roy danced with everyman in the room", "What do TV stars do after work?" and " "Celebs come out for a peek" jostle with cutting edge insights on "How does one benefit from drinking watermelon juice?". Normally I hate adverts, but I could watch them here for hours. To see the latest Bollywood star, body popping a packet of chocolate cream biscuits in a trendy nightclub in a biscuit advert, keeps me gripped for hours!