It’s finally here. The singular sensation that is gripping the psyche of the city, the state, and indeed everyone who speaks the language. It’s nothing like anything. Even for a set of people who revel in the worship of their heroes, both on and off the screen, this is extraordinary.
This is not a report of the Kabali sensation or the Rajini phenomenon. Of that, much has been written and read, of course. This is, in many ways, much simpler. It’s about the four words that are the sole focus of everyone’s obsession this week — the elusive First Day First Show — which shall, for all intents and purposes, hereafter be referred to as FDFS.
The FDFS syndrome is everywhere, its symptoms manifest themselves in the unlikeliest of places.
In the furtive but determined hunt for the ultimate prize, relationships mend and break as well.
Long lost acquaintances surface out of nowhere, and forgotten school classmates suddenly become Whatsapp buddies. Colleagues become conspirators — any gathering of two or more people in the office, whispering surreptitiously is bound to involve a discussion of ticket-sourcing tactics. Plans of action are compared, a list of prospective theatres is drawn up, and well-meaning advice is meted out. All of this begins with one simple question — “Tickets irukka?”
Many of the conversations involve dark mutterings about the fickle and indecisive nature of ticketing websites. Green changes to red in the blink of an eye, only to change back to green a few seconds later. Click, and voilà! Red again. The desperate conversations are fuelled by photographs of tickets posted by friends in the USA. Frustration peaks when news of companies declaring a holiday on release day break out on social media.
The excitement and tension in the air is palpable. It’s contagious as well. As the clock ticks, taking us closer and closer to K-Day, efforts to lay hands on the precious FDFS tickets intensify. Amidst those who chase Pokémon, and those who flaunt their Prisma-tic photographs with numerous hashtags, are those who labour silently — whose sole mission for the next couple of days is to secure a seat in the FDFS.
It’s indeed a wonderful time to be alive. A time when friendships and relationships are rekindled over a joint purpose. A time when the obsession over larger-than-life heroes makes our real-life problems seem temporarily trivial. A time when Rajini, like wine, seems to get better with age.
A time when the word Magizhchi is in fashion.
Thought Circus 