Have you ever met or heard of someone who has never watched a movie? There might be a handful of such people, but they are rare. How do we approach movies? When I talk about "viewing," I don’t mean just "seeing" a film but rather how we should engage with movies as a medium. For me, movies are primarily a source of entertainment, and I believe most people would agree. However, I also see them as stress-busters—not just comedies but even tragedies can serve this purpose. Do they provide a bit of education or some learning? Definitely. They also offer the chance to appreciate the art behind them, the craftsmanship of thousands of unseen individuals who contribute to each film. And don’t forget the deeper understanding of social issues they can provide. You can view movies from all angles—360 degrees—and each person will have their own unique perspective.

As for my own introduction to the world of cinema, I’m not entirely sure when that happened. From the faintest recollection, my first movie could have been Do Bigha Zameen. I was about 4 years old, perhaps. The song "Dil ki Kahani" from that film still lingers in my memory, and even today, its melody haunts me. Another early movie could have been Baiju Bawra. In fact, one scene I recall—likely from Do Bigha Zameen—involves farmers singing while harvesting. In my spectacle-less days, I spent years thinking they were rowing boats! That vague memory is of us sitting below the screen, in rows and rows of chairs, with the screen towering above us.

I can’t recall the exact order of the films I watched in childhood, but one that certainly left an impact was Jagruti. Its song "Chalo Chalein Ma" was so powerful that it could bring tears to the eyes of any listener. In a way, it reminded me of Taare Zameen Par, which I saw many years later. Those were the days of Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, and, of course, Kishore Kumar.

Kishore Kumar, as a comedian, was incredibly popular. His film Mehboob Ki Mehndi with the song "Loji Bhuj Gayi Bijli Pyaar Ki" remains fresh in my mind. Some of the most memorable, stirring, and entertaining films from that era include Awara, Bombay Ka Babu, Love in Simla, Junglee, Hum Dono, Taxi Driver, Shree 420, Howrah Bridge, Udan Khatola, Kashmir Ki Kali, Jab Jab Phool Khile—which might have been loosely based on Pygmalion—*Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi*, Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Naya Daur, Madhumati, Mughal-e-Azam, Barsaat Ki Raat, Waqt, and so on. It’s hard to remember them all, so pardon me if I’ve left out a few gems.

The heroes I’ve already mentioned. As for comedians, Kishore Kumar was a star in his own right, while Johnny Walker played the quintessential sidekick. The heroines I recall include Nargis, Nutan, Tanuja, the newcomers Sadhana and Nanda, and Waheeda Rehman. Were there others? Of course, many, but these stand out for me.

Continued in 200. Lights And Sights - Part 2