Avengers fans in city spend sleepless nights for tickets and 4 am shows

All my life, I have wanted to see the legendary ‘First Day-First Show’ (FDFS) of a Rajinikant movie, but luck has not always been on my side. The best that I could manage was a 6.30 am screening of Kaala, and most Rajini fans know that 6.30 am is not the real deal. So when I got an FDFS ticket to Avengers: Endgame, I grabbed it, as getting even a single ticket came at the cost of several sleepless nights.

Fans all over the city were logged on to various online sites almost 24x7 for first day bookings, and myfriend was one of the lucky few to get tickets for a 4 am show.

Waking up at an unearthly 3.15 am on Friday, I rode to Rakki Cinemas in Ambattur, where I witnessed the love for ‘superheroes’ that exceeded the fan following that some top Kollywood actors command. Here, at last, was a gauntlet thrown at Kollywood stars by the Marvel galaxy. “Take this all you ‘Nayagans’, we command an even strong following than most of you” – they appeared to say to the large crowd that waited for the doors of the theatre to open.

Contrary to my expectations of a crowd comprising a groggy bunch of comic nerds, I saw a diverse audience ranging from the fanatics, families, working professionals to students. The hall filled even as the 3D footage was being tested. But such was the dedication of the crowd, that several viewers ran out of the theatre to avoid seeing even a scrap of footage because they didn’t want any spoilers. This emotion probably explains why a section of die-hard supporters is now debating the ‘disgraceful’ decision of Tamil Rockers, a popular movie torrent site, to release the movie even before it hit the screens.

Any doubt of Endgame failing its intended audience was put to bed when upon the movie ending, the sound of claps rent the air. Marvel Studios can be mightily pleased that its outreach efforts in India have paid the dividends.