My Grandma and Batman

I was at my cousin's school last evening to pick her up. Deepika studies in class 5 at Poorna Pragnya Education Center (P.P.E.C, often referred to as Poori Palya Eating Centre by rival school goers!). As she came out of the school gate and we made our way home, I got remembering of my school days in the early and mid 90's. And especially since I caught up with The Dark Knight later that evening, I couldn't help but thinking of the early days of the Caped Crusader as well.

I dedicate this post, firstly to my Grandma; the most light hearted soul on this side of the earth and to her noble idea that incomes must not be taxed. She was educated up to class 3. I think she would have done well in the finance ministry.

Secondly, to all those who went to school in the 90's; especially the twenty year olds. This text is intended to take you down memory lane.

And thirdly, to Star Plus who made living for school kids worthwhile between 4:30 pm and 6 pm on weekdays in the last decade of the twentieth century.

Narse Gowda would pull up the auto in front of no. 6 'B' street Sirur Park Road Sheshadripuram at 330 every evening. After ensuring that the shoes and socks were carelessly thrown in the corner, and some grub, a round of cricket would follow in the 10 ft by 15 ft area compound. Yes, one of those places where the minimum score always ran into 3 digits. But all action would seize at 2 minutes to 430 only to be resumed later.

My grandma would fix a huge glass of Bournvita and I would turn on Star Plus for the first show of the evening – Small Wonder. She would sit and watch the show along with me even when she didn't understand a word of what was being said. I translated the dialogues for her; even to this day I can vividly remember “Vicky” the Robot, Jamie, the Dawsons and Harriet. Close your eyes and I'm sure you'll hear a soft voice in your head singing the jingle “She's a small wonder!”

By now, with the chocolate milk in my glass missing, we would move on to slot 2 of the evening – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The four heroes – Raphaelo, Donotello, Michaellangelo and Leonardo and their Rat Master (I can't remember his name). Boy! Were they good! Close your eyes again and your sure to hear the jingle of the intro song. I really can't remember many of the plots from the series, but it did leave a mark that I remember the show to this day.

Show no. 3 for the evening was Batman. But this wasn't starring Christian Bale. This was the Batman with Robin (before the days when the word 'gay' was thrown around). This was the Batman that drove the Bat mobile through the bushes that concealed his hideout. All the fight sequences were punctuated with Biffs!, Pows! And Bams!Kapaow!. Batman carried everything he ever needed in his belt. Bruce Vain lived in a Victorian style Mansion above the hideout, not in a plush penthouse like billionaire head of the Wayne empire. That is where the library stack gave way to reveal the 2 pillars that Batman and Robin slid down to their den. The Mayor of Gotham City pressed the black button on the Red Telephone to call for the Superhero and the candy like Boy-wonder. The series where the villains' sidekicks could be replaced by a stack of cards very simply because the odds were always stacked against them. Every alternate episode ended with the good guys being trapped and battling for life and a closing message would flash: “Can Batman survive the horrible trap of the Joker? Can the Joker have the last laugh? Stay tuned.” No points for guessing who had the last laugh the next day.

It was serious affair for a 10 year old back then. I would watch the series like there was no tomorrow. My Grandma would suspend all her household chores to watch Batman. And she would follow the tale with translation from her grandson. That was the age of simplicity. Now, in a multiplex, the Dark Knight is shown in dark light. He loses several battles with the Joker, before getting the better of him. He still womanizes though, and his gadgets have gotten cooler. The plot is complex, the sounds are louder and you'll have to make prior reservations to get a seat in the hall. It's no longer fun viewing for a class 5 kid and his grandma. I doubt if I'll be able to explain even 10 % of the movie to her, and that provided she agrees to come and watch the show in a multiplex hall for the first time ever in her life. This is the age of pseudo simplicity.