Before cinema halls and streaming apps, there were movie nights beneath the open sky - sponsored by the railways, projected onto a tall white screen, and free for all to enjoy. As dusk settled, families arrived with mats and pillows, finding their spots across the field as the first frames flickered to life.

Whether it was a Tamil film or an English one, the plot didn't matter as much as the gathering. Children laughed, parents chatted softly, and by the time the credits rolled, many had already drifted off in the cool night air. When the film was over, they quietly packed up, still siming and made their way home beneath a sky full of stars.