Potter casts his final spell in the city

As eager fans throng city theatres to watch the last film in the series, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, there is a lot more that awaits them besides the film itself

Potter casts his final spell in the city

As eager fans throng city theatres to watch the last film in the series, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, there is a lot more that awaits them besides the film itself

As the Potter craze comes to an end with the last movie in the series releasing today, fans across the world are battling nostalgia. Toy and bookstores in the city are cashing in on the Harry Potter craze that has spread across the city, knowing well that the last movie will mark the end of an era of magic and fantasy.

Malls like Garuda and Forum are hosting hourly contests for fans who gather to buy tickets for the shows, while toy and merchandize stores have decked up their windows with every possible Harry Potter goodie. The thrill and excitement the movie has brought along with it, is topped by the number of shows city multiplexes and theaters are showcasing.

Not that the movie needs any more publicity than it already has, with fans who have waited a whole year for the final edition - yet Forum Mall started various promotional events, leading up to the final day when the movie would be screened. "It is fun that such events are happening. I recently bought two wands, a Gryffindor tie, Harry's glasses, a potions' set that the cast used in classrooms and my prized possession is a toy figure of Harry sitting on his fire bolt. I am feeling very sad that the series will finally come to an end. Every time I watch the trailer I have goose bumps and I am excited about watching the movie finally," says Varsha Karnik, a fan who participated in one of the events at Forum Mall, Koramangala.u00a0

Movie festivals on in full swing While PVR Cinemas has an on-going movie festival where fans can participate in interesting quizzes and events to win interesting goodies like wands, death eater masks, badges and other goodies, bookstores like Landmark and Crossword are playing host to a huge collection of never-seen-before merchandize at throwaway prices. "It is an ideal time to expose the fans to the real world of Harry Potter and with 70 per cent of the fan base excited about the events; we have got a great response. There is more to come for the fans in all the cities," says Shalu Sabharwal, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, PVR.

Many groups of school and college students have been crowding at PVR to participate in the events. "I'm dying to watch the movie and meanwhile, these contests help keep our sad faces happy by hosting such quizzes that any die-hard fan would love to participate in. A Harry Potter goodie is the best gift one can give. A whole generation of us has grown up to and lived with the Potter mania and I hope the movie lives up to my high expectations," says Kavyashree, another fan.

It surely is the final showdown and so big brands like Weekender have prepared a whole wardrobe of Harry Potter costumes for sale that the city kids are excited about. Twelve year-old Lithikh K, who has read all the books in the collection twice, owns his own set of costume. "I have just bought a death eater costume, a make-belief invisibility cloak and even a Gryffindor school uniform," says Lithikh. Another fan, Parabjit Singh however begs to differ. "I love the books and the movies; however I wouldn't buy the merchandize. We have lived the last 12 years of our lives in the Harry Potter world and I'd love to participate in these events and win the goodies," he says. With the muggle fans in the city welcoming the last movie in full style, everyone is going overboard on the Harry Potter craze, one last time.u00a0

Harry Potter Festival
Where PVR, Forum Mall, Koramangala
On till July 16
Callu00a0 64556660

Potter Mania Quiz Contest
Where Landmark Bookstore, Forum Mall, Koramangala
ON tillu00a0 July 16u00a0 CALLu00a0 42404240