Cafe Amore, IMAX and Awara Paagal Deewana
Background: I wrote this piece in July 2002. It is also available in the Internet Archives
Early last morning, we suddenly found that we would be able to go out in the evening. I had heard of a new place called Summer Wine at Kemp's corner and I asked my secretary to make reservations. We wanted to see "High Crimes" starring Ashley Judd, but the movie was scheduled at 8.00PM at Sterling and we didn't want to have a late dinner at 10.30PM, after the movie. There was no other decent late-night movie in town, so we finally decided to go for "Awara Paagal Deewana" at 10.00PM at the IMAX, hoping that it would a decent bad movie.
It took us some time getting to Summer Wine, which apparently is now called Casa Amore (with an acute over the e). When we called for directions, it took them three phone transfers just to get someone to tell us how to get there (and this was when we were at the Nepean Sea Rd junction signal just beyond Shalimar Hotel); all we had to do was to make a U-turn and get into the Parsee General Hospital lane. Anyway...
This place is just like the Olives and Indigos that are sprouting all over town. Rough interiors (which I am sure are cheap) with stone flooring, scratched bathroom doors and horribly uncomfortable seats. The tables are closer than at an Irani restaurant. The pizzas and single malts, which were on the menu, were not available. We asked for a medium sweet white wine and the waiter could not get us a selection; after 10 minutes I opted for a Blood Mary with tequila. Most of these new places could learn a thing or two about service from Bellissima (at the old Bombay Cycle & Motor Agency), the Rotisserie (at the Oberoi) and the Zodiac Grill (at the Taj).
The food? WFM had a handi paneer, which was so-so. The rest of the menu was typical Italian-French with three kinds of pasta and a vegetable florentine. We had the penne, which was a little thick and unevenly cooked, and the florentine, which was decent. The best part in the end was the South Indian decoction that I had with condensed milk at the bottom; I finished the decoction in one gulp and then spooned out the coffee-laced condensed milk.
I still think Trattoria is the best place going around; the rest just seem to be cashing in on a trend.
We were running late and at 9.45PM left Kemp's Corner for the IMAX in Wadala. Taking the road via the racecourse and Lalbaug, we were able to reach Matunga by 10.00PM and we were at the IMAX by 10.10PM. Usually we take the road towards Priyadarshani before the Chembur turn-off and then make a U-turn at the circle to hit the IMAX road; this time we went via the Wadala east road. I don't think either route makes a difference; the roads and traffic are equally bad.
When we reached, the movie had already started. As soon as we sat down, a song started and I got up to get some caramel popcorn; only to find that they were completely soggy and I had to do with regular popcorn and cola. Often times, the only good part about a movie is the caramel popcorn; and the best caramel popcorn is sold at Sterling.
What can I say about the movie! It wasn't as bad as we had expected. The heroines were all awful, especially Amrita Arora, whose only claim to fame is that she is Malaika Arora's sister. But Paresh Rawal and to an extent Johny Lever and Sunil Shetty (surprise) were a riot and the comedy actually worked. If a Hindi film can make you laugh, it is always worth the money. The plot is highly convoluted (a la Hera Pheri) and the last half-hour is completely avoidable.
More than anything else, watching a film at the IMAX is worth the effort. The seats in the upper stalls have better leg space than in business class and the lower stalls have seating better than in any other theatre in town. The snacks are not bad, the toilets are actually good, the kids have ample space to run around, there are arcade games and there is ample parking. Plus if you don't get tickets for any film (which is highly unlikely considering that there are four theatres), the IMAX dome is always there. The only disadvantage is its location; in the middle of nowhere.
The moral? Avoid all fancy-sounding, European-theme based restaurants (unless friends have been there and found the food really good), especially if they are "happening" places. Watch "Awara Paagal Deewana" if you don't mind an hour and a half of laughter, an hour of painful action and about fifteen minutes of horrible heroines.
Addendum: I referenced this piece in my 1539 Week write-up on the IMAX experience
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