Udaan- as a work of Art

Udaan- Work of Art

A peep into its morals

कहानी ख़त्म है, या शुरुआत होने को है
सुबह नयी है, या फिर रात होने को है|

The movie starts and ends with the above lines. Rohan, the central character faces the same situation in life twice within a short period. The situation being a crossroad, a do-raaha, where one is not sure what lies ahead. The possibilities can be between two extremes. One being the end of story and the other being a new chapter in life (indicated by the words of the song). The movie begins with Rohan being suspend from boarding school after being found guilty third time of indiscipline. He has been asked to leave school and head home. On the way he wonders what lies ahead of him, if this is the end of life or if it is a start of a new chapter ( the question being all the more important since he hasn’t met his father for 8 years). The end of movie is again with the same question. Rohan after much thought and spent anger decides to leave the house of his tyrant father (and take his younger step brother along). He is sure to leave behind his past, but his future is not certain. And it can take the two extremes of either being the end, or turn of a new chapter.

The movie is a depiction of Grey characters. Except the young boy (who is not old enough to have shades of Grey), all the characters have both something to hate, and something to love about. Even the most negatively portrayed character of Bhairon Singh (Rohan’s father, played extremely well by Ronit Roy), has a certain positivity in it. Though tyrant, he still has some principles. To start with, given all the frustration and loneliness in his life, he has not given up on the responsibility of his boys. He does have a chitran of what a man should be, and tries to shape his boys accordingly (though his methods are subject of criticism through out the movie). The other aspect of Bhairon Singh’s character is that though from outside he appears all strong, firm and heartless, but the movie is able to show the emotive side of him too. The man does feel lonely, he feels and admits the need of a partner (and hence goes for a third marriage, in which he is ready to accept the responsibility of a young girl).

The shades of Grey is what makes the character realistic and believable. The audience can empathize with all the characters. The world is not black and white, but Grey. The truth of world is subjective and not objective. Or in other words, the Truth needs to be contextualized for it to be realistic, believable and even relevant.

The movie is not a happy ending (as one is often used to in Hindi cinema). In fact the movie is strong enough to generate a need of a happy ending in the audience. And that is why it has the potential to leave the audience with a feeling being incomplete or unfinished (something which is still not over). One would leave the cinema hall with a need of a sequel-Udaan II. One might even start imagining and cooking the sequel of the film. And most likely, all the imaginations of the sequel would have the family being re-united. Untill then there seems no end. Untill then one wants no end. The beauty of the movie is that one still doesn’t hate Bhairon Singh and wishes for him to reunite with Rohan and his brother.

The word Udaan signifies freedom. It is about freedom after much effort. The bird flies after weeks of practice and millions of wing flapping. The last run of Rohan, where he finally manages to out run his dad signifies this Udaan. And its probably this, which gives him the final confidence of taking the leap into the world on his own (and the confidence to be able to ‘make future’ of his younger brother). The last run, is probably the most significant part of the movie and best describes its title Udaan.

Udaan- The movie

Kahaani khatm hai, yaa shuruaat hone ko hai

Subah hai yeh, yaa raat hone ko hai

The two lines struck some chord the first time i listened to them. Standing at the door of MMTS, looking in the dark outside with cold wet breeze on the face, I listened to the song. I was happy that the mp3 player was working again. And also about the decision to download the songs before starting for Adilabad. For most of the night in the train, I was enjoying the songs with the rains. This was the first tryst with the latest movie Udaan. The songs- music and the lyrics were strong enough to move me. The above two lines, were just too good (probably they came at the right time in my life). Im now able to appreciate the lyrics and Im now not afraid of listening to new songs.

And then I saw the movie. It was incredible. It has probably broken the last of the shackles of morality which im now too tired to carry. Sometimes its important to for some time keep aside morality. I feel its the right time now. I need to keep it aside, breathe freely, regain some strength and wait for the right time. Inshaah Allah!

Morality is important for saamajikta, but at times it can hamper one's journey of learnings. Or to put it in better words, half baked notion of morality can become a hurdle. And so in the hope to understand morality better, in hope that the journey would continue, I decide to give it some rest for the time being.

Aazaadiyaan!!

Beautiful song

आखों के परदे पर, प्यारा सा था जो नज़ारा
धुँआ सा बन कर, उड़ गया अब न रहा
बैठे थे हम तो ख्वाबो की छाओं के तले,
छोड़ कर उनको जहा कहा को चले|

कहानी ख़त्म है या शुरुआत होने को है
सुबह नयी है यह या फिर रात होने को है
कहानी ख़त्म है या शुरुआत होने को है
सुबह नयी है यह या फिर रात होने को है

आने वाले वक़्त देगा पनाहे
या फिर से मिलेंगे दो राहे
खबर क्या
क्या पता

Tryst with different kinds of Beggars

One thing you see in Indian cities prominently are beggars. Ive been vitnessing them, sometimes even confronting them and sometimes even sharing the same space with them now for over 20 years. But not untill recently i was forced to change my perspective towards them and see them in altogether different way. It now looks more like a professional industry and a beggar looks like any of the other office going person in morning. Of late i've met very interesting kinds of beggars.

As a kid i was told by elders in the family, that beggars are someone who choose not to work and think they can manage a living just like that. That perception has now been broken. Im not saying that beggars are people who want to but cannot work (due to various reasons), but im saying they work. And the work being the profession of begging. Yes, im daring to call it a profession. And now that ive started looking at it as a profession i remember to have met some very interesting professional beggars.

1. Tourist Beggars: During my stay in SIDH, near Mussoorie i realized that the beggars here are seasonal beggars. They come to Mussoorie during the summer months just like the tourists. And once the tourist season is over, they return to where ever they come from. For them its not only a means to escape the heat waves of the plains but also to earn some money. They move in families.

2. The lost lady in Agra: When studying in Agra, i met this lady at the Agra bus stand. She was well dressed and looked educated. While i stood waiting for the bus to arrive, she quietly approached me. She said that she is from Mathura, and somehow lost her money. And so needs some money to buy a bus ticket I knew she was lying, somehow the innovatiness forced me to give into her story. I dont remember how much i gave, but it surely was much more than i would give it to a conventional beggar. The best part is, i bumped into the same lady again at the same place after one month. She again approached me and told the same story. This time i had to say no. I told her that i had met you at the same place a month ago. She hurriedly left the place. That day she must have learnt a lesson that she needs to constantly change places or work.

3. Another lost lady in Delhi: it was the same story this time in Delhi. This rural Haryana lady this time approached me while i was standing outside AIIMS bus stop. She showed me a medical card with something scribbled on it. She even asked me to touch her hand to see for myself that she is running high fever. I didnt do it, but i again gave into the story. This time it was the nature of script and choice of words which was very powerful (and maybe also my liking of the Haryanavi language). Back then, it was my first job. I was working in this Hindi news channel and the notion of short, crisp but powerful scripts was part of my job. I was learning on how to make a News item (usually 30 to 90 seconds long) more interesting by use of words. The script was the most powerful component of the News item. And so this lady's powerful script, her choice of words was what made me give her the money. I knew she was lying, but i wanted to actually believe that she was genuinely lost in Delhi and that my money would have helped her reach home.

4. This time a couple in Hyderabad: The idea of being lost away from home is fast catching up. This time it was a similar encounter in Hyderabad. As i walked to IIIT, i saw this couple with a small child standing besides the road. The man wore a dhoti kurta and Gandhi cap, while the woman wore a red saree. The style of tying a saree (locally called 'Kaashte ki saree') said they were a Marathi couple. The man was carrying a small baby in his arms. As i came near them, they spoke the first line of the script. I dont remember exactly what it was, but it meant “do you understand Hindi or Marathi, please”. Just one line was powerful enough to stop a stranger who knows either of the language. Short and crisp. I knew for sure that it was not a genuine case of a couple being lost in a city where they dont even know the language. But the opening line and the costume they wore was powerful enough to give me ten rupees to them. I chose not to get into a conversation with them. Somehow i knew the whole script would be very powerful. It would be powerful enough to make me give more money or make me feel horrible for not giving. And so i quietly went to the lady and pressed a ten rupee note into her rough, wrinkled palm. I didnt even dare to look into her eyes. The script, the costume and then the acting (expressions in her eyes) would have been too much. If Shahrukh Khan can read this, the couple were great actors.

5. The singer who moved people: His was the most meldious voice i have listened in my life. He was a blind man, singing an old hindi film song “Tu ek paisa dega, woh dus lakh dega”. His voice, the rythm and the way he sang it made the whole experience very moving. And it wasnt only me, other people in the train were also moved by it. And the best part is, this man knew perfectly well how talented he was. He had the confidence that he could move people's heart. And therefore he would move very slowly. He would stand at the same place for quite a long time, singing and waiting. And people would sooner or later give up their pretention and take out some coins from their pockets. By the time this man, approached my column, we all were already ready with a coin in our hands. We all loved listening to him, because when he left, we quietly smiled at each other, as if saying the same thing to each other “what a singer”. I remember, when i put the coin in his small, wrinkled palm half cover with a dirty white kurta, i pressed his palm (thankyou, dont go).

6. The one with Hindi songs in Kerala: This beggar was probably the most interesting i've come across and also the most confident. I was traveling in Kerala in Netravati express (coming from Goa, going to Thrissur). And all of a sudden i hear a beggar singing another of those old hindi songs. At first it all looked normal. The song looked familiar (used my many baggars), the voice was melodious too and there was rythm too. But then all of a sudden it struck me. It was Kerala, a Malayam speaking state, very very far from the Hindi speaking states, and this man chose to sing Hindi songs. Will people even understand the meaning of the song? Why is he not singing some Malayali song? Will that not be more effective? But all logics defied, this man was doing decent business. I dont know if people understood Hindi or not, but they were giving him money. Probably for the same reason, why i gave him. The idea and courage to sing Hindi songs for begging in Kerala.

7. The English speaking beggar: This was most recent and probably the most hilarious of the lot. A beggar, asking in English. “Dear Sir, just one rupee please” he would smile and say. He did not give the look of someone who is in desperateness, but rather someone who enjoys his work. Or rather more accurately, he had that look in his eyes enjoying to see the amazement in people's eyes. Everyone was just amazed to see an English speaking beggar. And this was not the only line he could say. He could speak other English sentences too. “looking for change in the pocket, madam” or “child give way to pass” were other sentences i heard. This was too tempting for me to resist. I had to, had to give him. We both smiled at each other as if saying, “nice work man”.” thank you”. When he left, a fellow passanger joking said “Angrez chale gaye, ise chhod gaye peeche” and we all laughed.

The two couples

It was a night of two couples and us.

Suman and I were returning from a film screening from the Goethe-Zenthrum, a German institute in Hyderabad. A documentry called “I want my father back”, had been screened there. It was on the issue of farmer suicides, focussing mainly on the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Govt. Estimates more than 2 lakh farmers have committed suicides in the last decade in the country. It is something which has been never witnessed in the 10000 years history of this land. Vandana shiva, in the film refused to call them suicides. She instead chose the word genocide. The film indeed was moving, specially for both of us. It again made us feel restless, feel a sense of hurry and maybe also a sense of guilt. On our way back we again (like so many times earlier), discussed what possible things we can do which would connect us directly to the land, to the ordinary people and also ensure our livelihood.

It was 9.30 while we were still in the bus. The mess would have closed by now, and so we decided to get down at Indra Nagar for dinner. We had Poori and Uttappa at the Udipi eating place there. The food was good. After that we thought of having filter coffee at this chai wala outside the shop. Two young boys served some 10 varieties of tea and coffee. People loved it. Almost everyone after dinner at Udipi stops for tea/coffee at this stall. We were among them. I ordered filter coffee, while Suman went for tea. It was there we saw our first couple. They had come there for tea like others, but they were different from all of us. And that is what caught our first attention.

The man wore a dhoti and a worn out kurta, while the woman had a green saree on her. The man must have been in her fifties, thin and tall with grey hair. The woman was half her height. She had a biggish bindi on her forehead. Around her neck hanged a mobile phone. They had come there for chai. I loved watching them. To imagine a rural, illiterate couple come out for a chai made me smile. I was just attracted to them. Quietly, hiding behind Suman's shoulder i observed them (as if watching a celebrity couple). There wasn't much talk between them. They enjoyed their tea quietly. We finished ours, paid the chai wala and left the place.

We decided to walk to IIIT, not far now. The weather was pleasant, like it is suppose to be in summers in Hyderabad. The hot day, had given way to a pleasant night. A cool breeze was playing with the trees, watched by the half glowing moon. The traffic had reduced on the road, and so the walk back was peaceful. We talked about this couple, we had left behind. We talked about the farmers again. We talked about our plans (yet again). The couple reminded us of the farmers we had seen in the film. What made them migrate to the city? What work do they do here? Where are the children? Where are the parents, the cousins, the relatives, the neighbours, the fields, the water stream or the well, the rains, the harvest, the festivals, the celerations. I guess all that had been left behind.

As we were approaching the IIIT main gate, we saw yet another couple there. A dhoti-kurta clad man, with a baby in his hand and a saree clad woman were standing outside the SBH atm. They looked marathi to me, by the way the woman had wrapped around the saree. We knew what to expect from them. We knew as we would come closer this man would ask if we know hindi or marathi (as if saying they are lost in an unknown land, struggling with unknown language). We knew if we stop to listen to him, he would start up with some sad story of his life and then ask for some money. They weren't first such couple we had encountered.

And so while we were walking towards them, we wondered what to do. We wondered how to avoid them, what to say, what not to say. To avoid the inconvinience we thoughts its best to avoid a conversation with them. And so we detoured our path. Went round them, keeping a safe distance to pretend not hearing him (as if we would have helped had we heard you) and entered the gate. But all this had made us extremely uncomfortable. We knew that it wasnt a genuine case, but only another creative method of begging. But what if it was a case of a lost family? We repeatedly told ourselves, that it was not a genuine case, but the question of “what if” would not go. And so we stopped. Suman said "lets give them 10 rupees", not to help them, but to help ourselves sleep in the night. I put my hand in the pocket, and a 10 rupee note came out. I turned back and walked towards them. Inside i thought i would go straight to the lady, hand over the note and turn back. I would not get involved in any conversation with them. Didnt want to give them a chance to start with their story (of being lost in the city), which i knew was not true. As i walked to them, i saw they had managed to stop a young man. I saw the man stop, listen and then without saying a word, walk away from them. Just as he walked away from them, i walked towards them. The lady first saw me. I walked towards her showing 10 rupees in my hand. She stretched out her hand, and i kept it on her open palm. She then closed her fist, crushing the note in her hand. All this may not have taken more than a second. It was good enough for me to capture the picture of her wrinkled hand in my mind. It is still very vivid. The hand said it all. I turned back, and walked away. Suman looked at me and i looked at him. And we walked inside the campus.

So what was the story of the couple i wondered? No, not the one they would have told us asking for help. But the real story. Who were they? Were they farmers who were forced to leave behind everything? Were they farmers who still had the courage to fight and not end their lives, who still had some hope left. What was the story of the couple we met at the chai shop?