One of my friends wanted an article on "What is your favorite movie?" and that's where I had to prepare him one. So I wrote about mine and posted here, just to keep a copy of it।
Directed in 1999 by one of the veterans of Indian cinema, Sanjay Leela Bansali, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is one of my favorite movies.
This one stars Aishwarya Rai as Nandini, in love with charismatic Salam Khan in the role of Sameer (a.k.a. "Hawa ka Jhowka") with power-packed & National award winning performance by action-turned-romantic Ajay Devgan as Vanraj.
The feature film starts with interactions between Nandini and Sameer, who has come all the way from Italy to learn classical music from Nandini's father. First part of the feature elaborates on how the chirpy & innocent couple fall in love. Nandin's whole extended family is unaware of their liaison when Nandini's strict & principles oriented father promises her marriage to Vanraj, son of their family friend.
Most part of the movie was shot in Gujarat-Rajasthan and the latter part in Budapest which was passed off as Italy in the movie. Cinematography and music were also notable and my favorites. Authenticity to cultural references and costumes were carried out with elegance, which makes it a "Picture Perfect" for me as well as the critics.
If I am allowed to elaborate on the plot and summary, I would like to add that this one could be considered one of the memorable romantic movies of Indian Cinema. Here the makers tried to depict the notion that love is all about sacrifice. Of course, this was mainstream cinema and meant solely for entertainment, nevertheless this is considered an art judging on how the film was made and the commercial and critical acclaim it attained.
Continuing on the plot, Nandini & Sameer are by now deeply in love and their innocuous loves comes out on every frame. Soon, Nandini's father finds out and banishes Sameer from their villa. Sameer has no where to go in India and returns to Italy. In between he had written letters to Nandini to join him, but she never receives them. Nandini is married off to Vanraj who is deeply in love with her. One day Nandin's mother visits them along with their domestic help who brings Sameer's letters to Nandini. Vanraj finds Nandini reading of those letters and though initially angry at her for lying to him, takes her to Italy to have her reunited with Sameer. This is one instances of "sacrifice for love" and another is delivered at the climax with loads of irony.
The scenic beauty of Budapest and its surrounding villages are shown as Vanraj and Nandini have set themselves in search of Sameer. Nandini is indifferent to Vanraj & only wishes to be reunited with Sameer. But as their quest for Sameer advances, they both reach a point where they define their building relationship as friendship. Gathering information about Sameer, Vanraj closes in but Nandini meets with an accident, just when they were about to meet him. Despite many difficulties, Vanraj takes good care of her and she secretly falls in love with him.
When it's time for Nandini to be with united with Sameer, she realizes that "love is about sacrifice" and parts with Sameer to be with Vanraj who was willing to ... Sacrifice "his love" for "his love".
And that's how the "Irony" crumbles !
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Faith Rewarded
This one I picked up from Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight".
I am standing at point in my life where I want my faith rewarded.
There was this guy I know from School. He dropped out after 10th. I did not meet him since then, only on the streets around my house. No more than "Hi-Hello" took place between us and we exchanged words about where everyone else was. A few months ago he had taken a few of my friend’s cell phone numbers. So he calls up this year in January and wants me to meet him. He is skinny and definitely not in a good shape. And trying to hide the fact with cheap facade. By now you have guessed it right. He wants money.
I gave it to him. Not expecting he would return them. That I had to mention because that's where my faith lies: Help out others without any expectations. And if you are helping someone you are taking the pain in your ass. These I believe are the cardinal rules of helping someone.
I was happy that I could help him when there was no light in his life. He had been in and out of petty jobs but did not have anything permanent. I also knew that a few years ago he had been form Hyderabad with unsuccessful bouts of odd jobs there. He told me that he had recently got married and that his parents had disowned him for that, presumably because he did not have a job. Now this guy was really in a fix. I did not want to believe those stories, but I knew that he was in need of money. I did not care about the stories he cooked to get the money out of me. I just gave him what he need at the moment. I also felt that "she" would have approved of it. This is also one of my forlorn faiths I want rewarded.
Now he started visiting me in every 3-4 weeks asking for more. when I felt like it I gave it to him. When I did not, I just ignored him. He came once with the news that his mother had expired. I did not believe him and I did not help him then. He tried his wife to call me (if that was his wife at all). I did not help him then either. Once he came up with a tale that he needed to deposit money to a Security Agency where he will be placed as a security guard. I did help him then. There were situations like that his wife was admitted to hospital. He needed money, it did not matter what story he was cooking. If I felt like it, I lent him some.
Finally I started avoiding him. He usually called from PCO or someone else's cell. He does not have a cell. Not receiving phone call from unknown numbers or lying that I am not available to meet him, was what I thought would drive him away. It did not.
Now he comes up and says he has got HIV. I lent him some. He showed me some papers where his name was mentioned and that report motioned HIV reactive. I did not feel pity or compassion. Just lent him some and asked him to take care. Then he calls up in a couple of days to say his wife needs abortion and he needs money. I told him I could not help. That did not stop him from calling again when I was having a booze party. The alcohol had kicked in and I just shoved him over with some real harsh words. That hasn't stopped him either .
I do not want this over me. I was upset about this episode. I feel I helped him to my extent. I can handle this. I will. But my question is: Did I do the right thing? If I did the wrong thing, then at what point of this story? I have to learn to say no at the right moment. I have to learn not to let go of my faith. I am yet to find what would be the reward of holding on to my faith: me getting rid of him or him getting better with his life. All the same "I want my faith rewarded".
Excerpts from My Diary [What have I Learnt Today… 2nd April 2010, Kolkata]
I am standing at point in my life where I want my faith rewarded.
There was this guy I know from School. He dropped out after 10th. I did not meet him since then, only on the streets around my house. No more than "Hi-Hello" took place between us and we exchanged words about where everyone else was. A few months ago he had taken a few of my friend’s cell phone numbers. So he calls up this year in January and wants me to meet him. He is skinny and definitely not in a good shape. And trying to hide the fact with cheap facade. By now you have guessed it right. He wants money.
I gave it to him. Not expecting he would return them. That I had to mention because that's where my faith lies: Help out others without any expectations. And if you are helping someone you are taking the pain in your ass. These I believe are the cardinal rules of helping someone.
I was happy that I could help him when there was no light in his life. He had been in and out of petty jobs but did not have anything permanent. I also knew that a few years ago he had been form Hyderabad with unsuccessful bouts of odd jobs there. He told me that he had recently got married and that his parents had disowned him for that, presumably because he did not have a job. Now this guy was really in a fix. I did not want to believe those stories, but I knew that he was in need of money. I did not care about the stories he cooked to get the money out of me. I just gave him what he need at the moment. I also felt that "she" would have approved of it. This is also one of my forlorn faiths I want rewarded.
Now he started visiting me in every 3-4 weeks asking for more. when I felt like it I gave it to him. When I did not, I just ignored him. He came once with the news that his mother had expired. I did not believe him and I did not help him then. He tried his wife to call me (if that was his wife at all). I did not help him then either. Once he came up with a tale that he needed to deposit money to a Security Agency where he will be placed as a security guard. I did help him then. There were situations like that his wife was admitted to hospital. He needed money, it did not matter what story he was cooking. If I felt like it, I lent him some.
Finally I started avoiding him. He usually called from PCO or someone else's cell. He does not have a cell. Not receiving phone call from unknown numbers or lying that I am not available to meet him, was what I thought would drive him away. It did not.
Now he comes up and says he has got HIV. I lent him some. He showed me some papers where his name was mentioned and that report motioned HIV reactive. I did not feel pity or compassion. Just lent him some and asked him to take care. Then he calls up in a couple of days to say his wife needs abortion and he needs money. I told him I could not help. That did not stop him from calling again when I was having a booze party. The alcohol had kicked in and I just shoved him over with some real harsh words. That hasn't stopped him either .
I do not want this over me. I was upset about this episode. I feel I helped him to my extent. I can handle this. I will. But my question is: Did I do the right thing? If I did the wrong thing, then at what point of this story? I have to learn to say no at the right moment. I have to learn not to let go of my faith. I am yet to find what would be the reward of holding on to my faith: me getting rid of him or him getting better with his life. All the same "I want my faith rewarded".
Excerpts from My Diary [What have I Learnt Today… 2nd April 2010, Kolkata]
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