Classics

 There’s no sense in comparing the absolute Hollywood copy and its original; rather I would prefer to draw parallels between these two road trip movies: 

Thelma and Louise (1991) & Highway (2014) 

 

In search of freedom, the crime committed seems sinless when it comes to the life they’d been dragging till now. 

 

Thelma and Louise went on a little trip. Louise saved Thelma from getting raped, and when the guy commented bad words from behind, she triggered the gun at him. Thelma ran away with her towards Mexico to be saved from the crime. I’m glad there was not a “Thanks for saving my life but how can you shoot someone! It’s your fault and you shouldn’t have done it.” Apparently ‘Highway’ takes its story from this dialogue that Veera’s fiancé spoke, at the time of her abduction rather than taking any valid step to save her. 

 

Thelma had a disrespectful husband and a secluded life – she didn’t know what was outside; Veera didn’t know that travelling was much more than checking-in at the hotels. They kept running till Louise asked Thelma if she wanted to join her and she agreed. There, Mahabir was about to drop Veera off at some place after realising their team’s mistake of kidnapping the girl whose father had political links; till then she had seen the outside world and got that she was the fiery kite (patakha guddi) and she refused to go back to her home. Both side, the dangers are known that would follow, but the wish to reach their destination keeps on making their journey beautiful. 

 

Louise didn’t want to take the road of Texas, denying the reason to reveal, while Thelma continued to go by her side thinking something similar would have happened. Mahabir kept Veera away from him; the reason getting revealed in pieces – slowly – when asked by Veera. Here, Louise and Mahabir become one. They are behind the disguise of strong morale, but inside they are the same broken pieces. 

 

Thelma and Veera found their way on the open road. The innocent Thelma robbed a store and seized a police officer; the decent Veera got all ready to home a little hilltop house. After exploring their freedom, they know nothing can stop them. They both have felt the same while making the decision of staying where they were. 

 

The climax goes with them believing how the world wouldn’t understand them. Thelma: Let’s keep on goin’! (drive off the cliff and die.) Louise: You sure? Thelma: Yes.. 

The Mahabir-Veera climax is one step ahead since after Mahabir’s death, she confronts her family, saying she had gone ahead and wouldn’t come back. (She would jump off the cliff of old life.) 

 

Both the movies share the resemblance of their characters’ psychological states, but it doesn’t mean you can enclose them in the envelope of self exploration. There is more to the freedom, feminism, and emotions; there’s more to what you settle for. 

Not Cursing

I watched Kahaani movie today. I have always loved that movie. When you watch the thrillers again, you know the mystery part and so you mark more things than you had previously.

If someone would have said that Kahani is a Netflix original, I wouldn’t have believed. You know why? Because there are no swear words/ a little that I didn’t even mark. Not because it was an old family movie or anything, but because Bollywood (Indian) films were always made that way.

This women's day, I'd like to know what the necessity is that you should be in search of newer curse words! From the movies we have loved (i.e. GOW both parts) to the series – the constant use of curse words and adult scenes is increasing. Yes, I have a problem with that; it is not necessary to show the scenes and to swear every time something exciting happens that makes you angrier.

The start of web series on YouTube was a good thing, but when the internet allows you the freedom of language, it doesn’t mean you “must” show the story with characters who curse a lot. Don’t you think a good script may come from someone’s mind without any swear words? A few months back, I wrote a story of 3 pages (A4 size page) and there I used the F-word thrice. My siblings suggested me to remove that just because even if it may seem realistic, looking at today’s situation, there was yet no need to waste three words in the short story competition which had a limited word count. (After that I realised how your family’s point of view matters; how important it is to get your audience!)

Since a while now, it has been the reason I don’t watch many series. My Netflix/Prime subscriptions don’t make a big difference in my routine. I’m addicted to Instagram where I see people posting new content with positivity; I see some memes which are actually funny (most of the memes are funny!); I see people quoting movies in real life. And I love it. I just don’t think cursing should be a part of someone’s life.

You may have a problem with that. If you are habituated to cursing, I don’t judge or blame you. When I get angry while driving, I have the habit of speaking/shouting words like “Boghu” or “Nakkomo” or “Chopli”, which remain unheard by the concerned person. I get angrier, when after all this they say a woman can’t drive! But this never lead me to speak any bad words… how can I speak bad for the person’s parents or relatives? And to literally think, how do you know his Sanskars are given badly? (To be honest, most of the curse words go to that person’s mother or sister, and I could never let that happen to any woman. Who gave you the authority to speak something like that?)

Now, excuse me, if you enjoy speaking the curse words. You think you’re cool in your gang; you think you’re courageous to speak something like that before your friend. Well, well, speaking those words is not cool. Also, alterating the letters/speaking altered words, is definitely not cool.

PS. Questioning me? I know the words. I don’t speak ‘em. It’s just that if someone curses me, rather than going back to my destination and asking someone the meaning, I like to reply something sarcastic that his/her tiny brain wouldn’t understand and then s/he would go back to their place and get the meaning that late!

PSS. If you say you don’t mean those swear words, then your respecting-women sayings and happy women’s day story/messages also don’t mean a thing.

बुद्धिमता time: 

क्रोधाद्भवति संमोहः संमोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः।

स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति।

Meaning: Anger produces delusion. Delusion diminishes memory. With that, brain damage follows. And with brain’s destruction, the life ends. (From Bhagvad Gita)

If you can’t remember this shloka/verse while you’re angry, at least try to meditate. That’s the smallest thing you can do for your mental health when you wish to curse!

Peace

O, why you cry with no wings to fly?
The hidden ocean of truths and lies
Is deep and yet merciful:
No waves and falls but that's blue, indeed;
And what will you see in that,
The dark blue or the marines inside?
What will you see staying outside,
The students' rights or the politics fight?
Yes, you vote and the government we chose...
But look you're not adult enough
To decide your future and you whiff the snuff...
You declare of sensing the lady of justice;
You fool, letting yourself out immediately,
But are you really not blindfolded or bound?
The balance you see and the sword you flee -
In the air, imbalanced and coloured nectar-filled...
Ah, yes! Red nectar and yet power-free!
You think of being stronger than the lady,
The one standing since years before you born;
Then what to say to the governments of years many:
Costing the things higher than their lives!
"People die; it's a usual thing,"
But not the kids of five and the learners with high life;
Not the people trying to find answers;
They'll die at their time, but who are we to decide?
Will you forgive me if I say I killed one?
And why would anyone take your pick?
You took the wrong journey, wrong decision, wrong worries;
Why would anyone believe?
The time has come when things make sense to me:
One hand is burning and another is ready with shawl
But the brain with some nerve injury -
Will it allow to cross the bridge?
Will you take the rupee in your hand and say,
"I won't flee to another side but stay inside"?
My words are spoken, and my eyes can see, ears listening,
But look I have no access to the explosions' site;
I have the internet and typing fingers
But no brain or heart and I still survive
In this country called mine...
I have trust to see it one day - being uptight, then right!
I'm not asleep but somewhere lost in the fights
Look, I'm not taking sides!