Lage raho…
None of the Mumbai films released this year made much sense except Page 3, Rang De Basanti, Corporate and now Lage Raho Munna Bhai…seems like new rage of Hindi cinema is here for the bunch of sensible audience. All other flicks were disastrous (excluding Omakara…my personal choice) for me who have been grown up watching parallel cinema. In fact, the mushroomed movies like Fanaa, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna scene that proclaims unusual love, poorer, distinctive infidelities of the Karan Johar or Mahesh Bhatt array were so pathetic that they don’t deserve any listing on list of awards but I won’t be surprise if they get all the 15-16 awards by different brands in all mushroomed award ceremony. I doubt on their authenticity now.
The film really caught me with introduction of Mahatma Gandhi, none of the recent movies have treated the Mahatma in a worthy light (anyone remember ‘HeyRam’ by Kamal Hasan ..pathetic portray of history ) So when Munna Bhai got Gandhi as his ethics keeper, it was surprising in beginning. Munna came to practice “Gandhi-giri”, and rather displayed some of his own brand of “Dadagiri” to get things done. But as the movie proceeded, there were more complex crossroads between theory and practice that easily left anyone with a deep impression for appreciation.
Its not just principles of ‘Ahinsa’ and ‘Satyagraha’ that rejuvenate the undoubtedly best film of this year, but also the fact that anyone in the world can be a Mahatma, and indeed many already are Mahatmas through their committed lives for the sake of others. These Mahatmas are ordinary people like Munna and Circuit who even reform themselves to incorporate Gandhi’s talisman.
I can easily relate my life with this character, as it was the time when I was misguided youth. Then an elite software engineer flaunts his knowledge on Gandhi to me and offered me a slice of his knowledge. It wasn’t so easy for me to practice lessons by Bapu’s in my life but then practicing lessons of Gandhiji actually work in fixing my day-to-day problems.
For all those who can think of ‘tit-for-tat’, cycle of violence is only solution for all , reservation will help our society, singing ‘vande matram’ is against the Muslim believe (those who think that must learn history of India) , youths who take pride in their ‘high culture’ sophistication, and for those arrogant and innocent and cool and the chic, Lage Raho Munna Bhai will probably provide the greatest lesson of life.
Yes Gandhi-giri works only when one has the conviction that you are correct and true. If you have the courage of conviction to stand even when no one else is with you, then it will surely work.
Gandhi- giri will work when you and me will share the knowledge, when we all will understand that humanity and respect is bigger than any statue, any ticket stamp or any verdict of politicians or maulvi or pandas.
Once I said ” Gandhi died again ” (link) and now I can see� my ‘Gandhi-ji’ is coming back.
Gandhi-giri Rocks !
