Yesterday I had a wonderful day. I practiced a lot, learnt new compositions, read a lot, studied a lot and watched good movies. Well one thing I would like to clarify is that I don’t watch movies for entertainment. For me, watching a movie can be as equally taxing and tiring as a practice session. I have so many things to follow as a technical student of cinema! Composition, lighting, continuity, semiotics, dialogues, narration, performances, rhythm in editing, pace, development and expression – these are all the areas to cover. I have to consciously keep in track of all these as well as enjoy the film as a layman! That’s a tough job!
Well, the movies that I watched yesterday were two great Indian films that most of them would have watched. Abhimaan and Mili from the master minded craftsman Hrishikesh Dada. I have watched these movies so many times and they leave such an impression on me all the time. I wonder what happened to that kind of cinema. Al that dada needed was two or three strong performers, one camera, one trolley and a few lights in a room. He could churn out the best of cinema from these little things.
Mili and Abhiman represent that era of Indian life, where Indians were still predominantly Indian in culture. The story lines are very simple, yet they stir you up completely and leave you dumbfounded. Amitab has won accolades from world over and it is obviously only Amitab who can carry out these roles. Jaya Bachhan is however imperial and illustrious in her performances. The songs of the movies are so beautifully worded and the tunes leave you mesmerized.
The essence or totality of the experiences I had while watching these films are simple. Yes! SIMPLE!
It is simplicity that makes it so great. Indian life and values during that time were simple. There was so much more meaning to life, commitment, love, honor and relationships at that time. There were no complications in life, no confusions and no exaggerations.
Well dint they have problems, confusions or questions? Yes they did! But they were blessed with something called contentment. Contentment is a bliss that is showered upon a few people. Contentment is something that defines happiness in simplicity. Well I think people like Hrishikesh dada are now gone and so, is simplicity in life. We are entangled in our super egos and synthetic confusions. Only if we could be that content middle class happy Indians again! Life would be so meaningful.
I am reminded of an autograph that a teacher of mine had written and signed when I was leaving school. It read,
“Karthik there is nothing called perfection. Sow the seeds of adjustment and reap the fruit of happiness. Let success come to you and may you choose not to be overwhelmed by it and remain simple for life because, simplicity requires courage and commitment and you are blessed with it”
I wonder even if such schools and teachers exist today?
Well, the movies that I watched yesterday were two great Indian films that most of them would have watched. Abhimaan and Mili from the master minded craftsman Hrishikesh Dada. I have watched these movies so many times and they leave such an impression on me all the time. I wonder what happened to that kind of cinema. Al that dada needed was two or three strong performers, one camera, one trolley and a few lights in a room. He could churn out the best of cinema from these little things.
Mili and Abhiman represent that era of Indian life, where Indians were still predominantly Indian in culture. The story lines are very simple, yet they stir you up completely and leave you dumbfounded. Amitab has won accolades from world over and it is obviously only Amitab who can carry out these roles. Jaya Bachhan is however imperial and illustrious in her performances. The songs of the movies are so beautifully worded and the tunes leave you mesmerized.
The essence or totality of the experiences I had while watching these films are simple. Yes! SIMPLE!
It is simplicity that makes it so great. Indian life and values during that time were simple. There was so much more meaning to life, commitment, love, honor and relationships at that time. There were no complications in life, no confusions and no exaggerations.
Well dint they have problems, confusions or questions? Yes they did! But they were blessed with something called contentment. Contentment is a bliss that is showered upon a few people. Contentment is something that defines happiness in simplicity. Well I think people like Hrishikesh dada are now gone and so, is simplicity in life. We are entangled in our super egos and synthetic confusions. Only if we could be that content middle class happy Indians again! Life would be so meaningful.
I am reminded of an autograph that a teacher of mine had written and signed when I was leaving school. It read,
“Karthik there is nothing called perfection. Sow the seeds of adjustment and reap the fruit of happiness. Let success come to you and may you choose not to be overwhelmed by it and remain simple for life because, simplicity requires courage and commitment and you are blessed with it”
I wonder even if such schools and teachers exist today?
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