Rhapsodizing Gandhism with pint of chemical locha and titillating humor.

Not often a do I get overwhelmed with urge to pen down about a Bollywood flick, not once but twice in succession. However, within couple of weeks the grandeur scale of two contrasting movies triggered set of emotions within me to go about keying in my thoughts about transcending realization on part of script writers to tickle the grey cells in the upper cerebrum. If the Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna left me, admittedly, disturbed and filled with sense of revulsion, Lage Raho Munnabhai was one were the grin broadened with every passing scene. It would be irreverent and flippant on my part towards Munnabhai if I further compare it with tear-jerker and cynical KANK.

When I was young and had discovered the art of breaking knuckles- the sound of ‘tuck’ gave me immense pleasure – I use to get a scornful and admonishing looks from one and all. Later I learnt that when you break knuckles of your finger, you in fact weaken your bones and hurt yourself. This trivial episode at young age is still embedded in my mind for it holds a cryptic message about basic human nature: How much we rue about falling moral standards and disrespect for others yet someone in the corner of our heart we hold love and concern for fellow human being even he is not distantly related to us. How many times In our life do we tread a path where we deliberately hurt ourselves yet remain blissfully ignorant until a prophetic mind shows us where we are heading to. Seeing two contrasting films within a week, I realized that very essence of mankind. I couldn’t tolerate seeing a protagonist been repeatedly hurt in one of them and on other hand I was swept aside by the very exuberance and feel good factor that the second movie exuded.


None of us like seeing or reading gory tales and subjected to mental whipping by seeing others’ woes. Apparently some where in those colorful light moments of Lage Raho…this was the implicit motif that the director and script writer wanted to convey. Gandhism, or perhaps Gandhigiri to be more apt, was preached with same philosophy. Yet the repackaging made it all that different where we could relate our modern times with immortal virtues of Gandhiji.

Over the years there are umpteen books, chronicles, journal and write-ups devoted to understand Gandhiji’s philosophy. Yet I feel they never came to justifiable conclusion as to what exactly he wanted his fellow countrymen to imbibe. At times his verses seemed contradictory and out of sync. Perhaps our understanding never broke that conventional barrier to accept a new philosophy of life. There is a fine line between self respect and ego, between determined and obstinate and that between non violent and coward. With passing time this distinction seemed to get blurred depending on ones own interpretation .For a change Munnabhai did, within three hours, what millions of words devoted to Gandhism couldn’t make us understand.

The most satisfying experience of the movie was revelation of an ‘open’ truth that even the most powerful and influential people, needs courage and guts to speak truth and be honest. Over the course of our life time we commit million mistakes and probably indulge in many more – implicitly. Yet we never have that courage to accept it even in front of our reflection/shadow. And that’s were the distinction between self respect and ego gets clearer. The ego never allows us to overrule our inhibition of accepting the mistakes and look to rectify it. Murali Prasad Sharma a ka Munna faced the similar dilemma whereby his ego almost ruined his relation with his Man Friday – Circuit. The mental confabulation and sense of guilt consciousness was brought forth when his chemical locha generated Gandhiji asked him to apologize to Circuit upfront. How many times in relation that sense of inhibition and egoistic nature deprive us of long lasting relationship?



For some historians Gandhiji was determination personified, for many others he was obstinate man. When you face adversary you need determination while when you look for personal materialistic possession and satisfaction, you become obstinate. When you stand for a human cause , fight for your rights you need determination and when you fight for your personal desire you become obstinate Presumably this very enlightenment changed the course of action in which duo of Munna and Circuit works. The 2nd Innings Cottage resembled a sense of bond for its inhabitants, Munna could have taken the easier route of either bamboozling Lucky Singh with his power or accepting his lucrative offer, Yet that sense of determination to fight for the symbolic territorial sovereignty of the old people lifts him above the mere mortals.



Finally, when Munna accepts the sermons of non violence and realizes its strength there is a sense of self-fulfillment in our part. It takes lot of courage to forgive your predator than go about ending his demonic motives. Leave aside common people, even the muscle flexing Munna and Circuit, who could mess around with anybody in the town, realized the courage that they needed to forgive their adversary Lucky Singh. By winning the emotional quarter of your adversary (I hesitate to use the word enemy) half the battle is won. May be Britishers realized that very power that Gandhiji wielded against them. There leaves no scope for your predator to retaliate in strong terms. As said earlier as human being none of us love to harm others, its just a moment of fit or mental sickness that drives us to cross the boundaries. What Gandhiji wished was such emotionally challenged people “Get Well Soon” and as a human being its our duty to send them metaphorical “Get Well Soon – Card and Flowers” as Munna did to Lucky Singh.



As a last word a special mention to the character of Circuit – a friend and conscience keeper of Munna.- who exemplifies Aladdin’s Genie. There friendship is the celebration of human relation which sees no hidden motives but love and care for his friend. Circuit’s triumph lies in Munna’s happiness. His ability to assimilate the vibrant mood of Munna and set the scenes on fire underlies his importance of a true friend in ones life. Wish each one of us has a “Circuit” in our life to trigger the electrons of positive and amicable ambience in and around us.