Talking about 'The Darjeeling Ltd', in the first few minutes of the movie Adrien Brody and Bill Murray run to catch a train, one makes it and the other doesn't. It's a scene that has been played out a million times over hundreds of railway stations in the vast Indian rail network over decades. One reason is the famous 'IST' - Indian Standard Time which unfailingly registers a delay of 30 minutes to an hour. The other is the multitudes that throng these stations with an inordinately large number of baggage pieces of all sizes and shapes. Then there is the extended family too that has come to bid a fond farewell. Navigating such crowds and obstacles on the ground requires nothing short of commando training.
The Bollywood movie "Jab We Met" starring Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur has two such scenes. In the first one, the heroine just about manages to catch the train after she has pushed aforementioned numerous pieces of baggage on board and in the second such scene, her belated sprint leaves her stranded on the platform. It all makes for wonderful viewing.
None of these, however, quite equal the real life experience of an officer in the Indian Army, who was travelling a long distance to rejoin his post. He got off his train to enjoy a leisurely cup of tea and when he went to board his train, he found that it had left. Overcoming his great consternation at having now lost his baggage and other valuable documents forever, he caught the next train going in the general direction. Several stations and hours later, he decided to brave a visit to the platform again. An incredible sight greeted him - his original train enjoying a rather long stop at this particular station. Not quite believing his luck, he got on and went to his compartment. His belongings were lying there just as he had left them and the other occupants after giving him a cursory glance got on with what they were doing. They assumed that he had probably met an acquaintance and perhaps enjoyed a long smoking session in the corridor.
Sometimes, real life is stranger than the reel life.
The Bollywood movie "Jab We Met" starring Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur has two such scenes. In the first one, the heroine just about manages to catch the train after she has pushed aforementioned numerous pieces of baggage on board and in the second such scene, her belated sprint leaves her stranded on the platform. It all makes for wonderful viewing.
None of these, however, quite equal the real life experience of an officer in the Indian Army, who was travelling a long distance to rejoin his post. He got off his train to enjoy a leisurely cup of tea and when he went to board his train, he found that it had left. Overcoming his great consternation at having now lost his baggage and other valuable documents forever, he caught the next train going in the general direction. Several stations and hours later, he decided to brave a visit to the platform again. An incredible sight greeted him - his original train enjoying a rather long stop at this particular station. Not quite believing his luck, he got on and went to his compartment. His belongings were lying there just as he had left them and the other occupants after giving him a cursory glance got on with what they were doing. They assumed that he had probably met an acquaintance and perhaps enjoyed a long smoking session in the corridor.
Sometimes, real life is stranger than the reel life.
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