How old were you when you watched your very first movie? Do you still remember which one it was?
Let me take you back to the days of the Panchayat Kaal, a time when owning a TV required a special license, and even gathering neighbours to watch a movie could be deemed suspicious. I remember one evening when the police unexpectedly raided our home, suspecting us of hosting a neighbourhood movie screening. Ironically, they had no idea what a VHS player was or how it operated, and our “illegal” screening left them more regular than concerned. Taking advantage of their lack of familiarity, they simply warned us not to do it if there is anything as such, and we went back to enjoying our little cinematic gatherings with a sense of pleasure and secrecy, now being careful.
Picture this: a 15 X 15 crowded room, a wooden sofa, a big carpet, and everyone glued to a tiny black-and-white TV in the corner. It was around 7 or 8 in the evening when two policemen suddenly walked in, asking questions about the movie we were watching. Back then, neighbours coming over to watch TV was normal, but having no license for the VHS or even the TV itself wasn’t. There was a panic and we were trying to hide the tape, everyone trying to stay calm. I was too young to fully understand, but hearing my parents talk about it later, I realized how close we were to getting caught. A narrow escape. By the way, the raid was not about the time I was experiencing my first movie but much later. Just giving you the context of the time.
The TV we used to have back then. Oh wait let me tell you the brand name and I don’t need to remember becuase I know it, Telerama.
The generator(Not the exact one but something similar) we used to have, to run the TV because it needed electricity and some electric bulbs for light. Battery-operated TV came much later in the house.
Remembering the name of my very first movie and writing a blog about it was no small task. Don’t even ask what search terms I had to come up with to track it down, just to find out the movie’s name! I’d have earned quite a reward if this had been a paid job. In fact, calling it a “task” feels like an understatement it was more of a solo project. I lost count of how many sprints I went through (teamless, of course), with each sprint’s “deliverables” based on guesses and fragments of memory. So, consider this blog the final deliverable of that long, full-of-twist-and-turn project.
This is how I remember the movie and would explain to you being a kid.
The Giants was the first thing I remembered; it was an English Movie for sure, because I understood nothing. There were two huge monsters and they were so, so big! They were smashing buildings and throwing stuff around. One was scary because he liked to attack people and even ships, and he didn’t seem to care who he hurt. But then his big brother was there, and he was trying to protect people.
My favourite part was when they fought each other. One was like a hero, even though he was also a monster. It was so exciting because they kept knocking over buildings and kicking up dust everywhere. I kept thinking about how strong they were and how they could probably pick up anything they wanted. The age when you had no idea of the existence of theatres or at least had no reference for the imagination of the theatre. The TV was the world of movies for me.
While researching the movie, I discovered it’s not an English film but a Japanese one, and now I’m not even sure if we watched it in the original language or if it was dubbed was dubbing even common back then? I doubt it. But honestly, none of that mattered; the experience was still unforgettable, maybe even better because of the mystery and thrill of it all. Being a kid in that crowded room, watching alongside neighbours as if it were our own little theatre, felt magical. There we were, crowded together, sharing gasps and laughs, soaking in every moment as if it were something precious and it was.
Being a kid watching the movie is just another level of fun, isn’t it? That too with close neighbours which was no less than a theatre experience, with a room full of people.
Looking back, The War of the Gargantuas wasn’t just a movie for me. it was my first window into a world beyond reality, the start of a lifelong fascination, a thrilling adventure that ignited my imagination. Even now, when I watch movies or let my mind wander, I remember that first feeling of awe, where anything seemed possible even giants battling in the heart of a city. I might not have fully understood the story or the meaning behind it, but I felt the thrill, the fear, and the sense of wonder that only a child’s mind can fully appreciate. That movie planted a seed, showing me that stories can transport us to other worlds, where the unimaginable comes to life.
Maybe that’s why, even today, I find myself drawn to stories with grand, unexpected twists, larger than life characters, and epic battles. Writing about this memory has reminded me of that wide-eyed child who first fell in love with movies, and I realize that sense of awe has never really left me. Sometimes, the movies we love as kids stay with us, becoming a small but powerful part of who we are. And for me, it all began with two giant monsters and a story that I never quite forgot.
A true nostalgic feeling, powerful writing and great storylines 👌🏻👌🏻 you’ve created a movie of your own with these beautiful moments together and I was once time travelled going through.
Amazing presentation, a true nostalgic feeling, powerful writing brother.