Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Satyam Shivam Sundaram




I happened to watch this movie , Satyam Shivam Sundaram , yesterday. It is a beautiful movie. And more so ever, when you realize it has very universal themes. I wanted to write the "emotional reaction" in Hindi, but I decided to write it in English, so that I can convey my message to a wide audience. Specially to those, who wouldn't ever watch this movie.

The movie is directed by Raj Kapoor and acted by Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Amaan. It is one of the best movies of its time since it conveys a universal message, which in my simple words, is that beauty is not what eyes see, but it is the Truth which heart feels. Doesn't it remind you John Keats?

" Beauty is Truth, Truth beauty ;
That is all ye know on earth,
And all ye need to know. "

I had misunderstood the Keats' message at first, due to my own inferiority complex, perhaps. But the movie captures and justifies with its message completely. Beauty is an idea and our idea of beauty is a reflection of our own heart and soul.

" ye dariya jo tujhe moh leta hai,
dil bhi tera ek dariya hoga ... "

The hero of the movie, is influenced  by his own idea of beauty , of whose glimpse he finds in a village girl, Roopa. Roopa is considered an ill-omen by birth and her face was disfigured by an accident in childhood .No one in village is ready to marry her.While a town boy, Rajeev asks her hand from her father. She refuses to marry Rajeev. But she is married to him. Rajeev when discovers that his wife has an ugly face, he disowns her saying, you are not my Roopa. The Roopa (the idea of his beauty) of his mind does not match with the real life disfigured Roopa.

There is a striking conflict between Idea and Reality. Roopa is awestruck. She has no other option to split herself as Mehbooba and Wife. Rajeev loves her as Mehbooba, meeting her under the bushes when the sun sets. And discards her as Wife, leaving her alone to cry over her destiny. He doesn't realize both are the same person.

There lingers the clouds of pathos in the story at this point. There is also an irony here, a striking one. Rajeev asks his Mehbooba to show her face, while at home he doesn't even bother to look at the face of his wife. Here comes a song... a pathetic , deeply agonizing song, presenting the two point of views.

Woh Aurat Hai Tu Mehbooba
Tu Sab Kuchh Hai Woh Kuchh Bhi Nahi ... (sings the hero)
Woh Aurat Hai Main Mehbooba 
Woh Sab Kuchh Hai Main Kuchh Bhi Nahi ... (sings the heroine) " 



The most touching nerve of this song is - She is your wife , therefore she is everything. The beloved is same, but the love given in marital relation is much more pure, respectful and enduring. When Roopa's reality of split persons is discovered by one of the servants of Rajeev, and he asks Why? She says, what is not given to me being a Lawful wife, I had to take it by being a Whore. It is her faith, her hope that one day Rajeev will accept her as she is. One day he will realize she is the one whom he loved.

The situation is in literary terms called, Dramatic Irnoy. When the actual situation is known and understood by audience but not by the characters. We know the Mehbooba and Wife are the same person, there is only one Roopa but Rajeev doesn't realize it. The best thing about it is. there is a multiple layer of meaning in this situation.

1. We as human beings , always look things by splitting them into two - Day - Night, Good - Evil , Beauty- Ugly. But the Truth is one. The both things are same, two sides of a Coin. Not even the two sides, just a thin veil of Illusion.

2. We as human beings are fallible. We have an idea of beauty and happiness in our mind, and keep hunting for it through out our lives, like a Kasturi Mrig but what we dose not strike us is, we could have found (or create) beauty and happiness in things that are just there in front of  us.

3. Like Rajeev wandered here and there in search of beauty, but overlooked what was in front of him. Most of us do ignore what is in front of us, and keep looking all life, what is not there.

The dialogues are heart touching. Specially, that are spoken by Zeenat Amaan. She says to Rajeev, you could have found at home, for what you wandered in Jungles.

When he disowns her publicly, pronouncing that you are bearing an illicit child. She says, " Dil ke tutne ki aawaaz nahi hoti, lekin jab wo tut.ta hai to jaljale aa jate hain, tufaan aa jate hain..."

The songs are as meaningful and touching as the movie . You can't miss the title track , and specially these  lines - Radha mohan sharanam , satyam shivam sunderam...



Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Ajintha: An Untold Love Story

Ajintha : An Untold Love Story directed by Nitin Desai is a Brit-Marathi movie.
This I watched at JIFF (Jaipur International Flim Festival) .



Story: Known for its classic beauty world-wide, 'Ajintha' caves came into the limelight in 19th century. What happens after that when a British officer Robert Gill (Philip Scott Wallace) comes to replicate the world-famous sculptures with the help of a tribal woman Paro ( Sonali Kulkarni) is the story of 'Ajintha'. " (TOI) 

The beginning is quite robust, and slowly it takes u in for a sensual and spiritual ride to discover the heights of love and devotion. What I liked best is, the entanglement of Buddha's Message , the Jatak-Kathas , and Buddha's own personal story with the love story of Paro, the tribal girl and Major Gill. Where on hand it reveals the love between two people who can;t even understand each other's language and on the other hand society's rules and intolerance over such love.

A parallel in the story could be Buddha's own tale. Like Buddha leaves Yoshodhra n Rahul behind to pursue his own duty n calling, Robert Gill also leaves behind Paro to organize an exhibition of Buddha's paintings in London, to spread Buddha's message. Another prominent theme of the movie is - Faith.

After Paro's brother has sold her to the Mukhiya, she has devoted herself to the Buddha. Its her faith that she has been chosen for this work, and its her faith in Buddha as well that stops herself to become a hindrance in Gill's path of spreading Buddha's message. She is an epitome of Innocence. She devotes herself like a flower on Gill's feet.



The power of movie lies in the strong amalgamation of sensuality and spirituality. As an audience you feel a sudden urge to live life one moment, and on next you experience the depth of devotion, sacrifice and heights of love. This is an amazing piece of Art and Cinema. Specially an achievement of Marathi Cinema. 

Midnight's Children - Watch it just while you are reading the book




A very Engaging movie. A true Indian Masaala blended with infinite names and fantasies. *oh i can smell the movie...its the roasted beef with paanipuri masaala. Oopz.*  The movie is a treat for those who didn't understand the book, at least they can flaunt what the work is about. The movie is also a Must-Watch for those who don't know Shabana Aazmi, Rahul Bose, Siddharth or Darsheel Safary. Or if you are from SRK camp or Fans of the-heroins-who-don't-know-how-to-act , please watch it. There is Solid acting by Solid horde of actors.

Let me tell you, what to expect from the movie, nothing... nothing but entertainment. Its a pack of entertainment. And yes, a bit of history and fantasy too. But the magic n dream stuff is really a Thing, and now you realize, why the heck it got the biggy award, and the Man biggy, i mean the Booker award.

Undoubtedly, screenplay was written very well. After all, Salmaan knew what all parts are worthy to showcase. If you ask me, what I remember after a day of watching the movie- I would say- Enlightenment. Sudden enlightenment of - - - oh...okay so this was the story, I wonder where was it lost when I read the novel. Alright , there was one more thing - the bed-time song - You can be what you want.... I could feel this was also in relation to - India, as a nation. The movie ends on a happy and hopeful note.

Anita Majumdar as Aunt Emerald

Among star cast , I guess the best acting was done by Anita Majumdar , an Indo-Canadian actor, who played Aunt Emerald. The movie is worth watching. Under the heavy names of Salmaan Rushdie n Deepa Mehta, it has to be, isn't it? 
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