Saturday, July 13, 2013

Casablanca and the "Casette"

Ilsa: Play it once, Sam. For old times' sake.
Sam: [lying] I don't know what you mean, Miss Ilsa.
Ilsa: Play it, Sam. Play "As Time Goes By." 
Sam: [singing] You must remember this / A kiss is still a kiss / A sigh is just a sigh / The fundamental things apply / As time goes by. / And when two lovers woo, / They still say, "I love you" / On that you can rely / No matter what the future brings-...  

For the uninitiated, these are the famous lines that ever came on reel in one the finest movies of our times-Casablanca. Set in the backdrop of the Second World War, the movie did more than pay homage to the Moroccan city; it showed that reminiscence is a beauty but not beautiful enough to carry it along. It showed why past is important; why an unfinished past will always get resolved in today's evening at a local bar before the future sun rises.
"This day and age we're living in
Gives cause for apprehension
With speed and new invention
And things like fourth dimension.


Yet we get a trifle weary
With Mr. Einstein's theory.
So we must get down to earth at times
Relax relieve the tension....."

These are the opening lines to this song. Songs have an intricate attribute-they can take you to any time, any place in the comfort of our armchair. The humble Cassette is reminiscent of that time when you could rely on people's words; when words came from the heart and not from the mouth. As Ilsa urges to play that song for old times' sake,  the cassette also urges us to look back and wipe that dust out. As the cassette plays, you know there are certain things which retain their essence; be it today or tomorrow. 

Today, I have my world in a miniscule device, but that world is subjected to alterations. It can be shaped as I like, removing the times which are sour and plucking the best frames only. The Cassette couldn't do that-it had a start and an end and you went the entire road at a stretch. Every song, every word comes and goes at its own pace.

"As time goes by", we'll remember the evenings which were idle and breezy, and "Ilsa" would have said-'play it again!'.

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