“And so it goes with God" - Life of Pi

A visual 3D extravaganza, a special effect marvel, that was Life of Pi for me till the last 10 minutes of the movie. Then, there was an outpour of philosophies, which made me think, and even lose a days’ sleep.

Pi, the central character had told 2 stories, one, a totally incredible and unbelievable one, and the other, a completely reasonable one. We are asked to choose an option, about which story we would prefer to believe - the story where he sailed across with animals, tamed a hungry tiger, got into a carnivorous island, or the one in which humans kill each other because of anger and hunger? Do we believe in a make-belief world, even if it is completely illogical? If so, what makes us think like that? Is it the struggle to preserve the “sanctity of the human world”, attributing the animosity to other creatures? Probably, we would like to hear a story where tiger and hyena kills, rather than humans killing. Even if it defies all logic, we might prefer the story which is colorful, funny, and more than anything else, which shows us hope, hope in humanity, hope that there indeed is light at the end of the tunnel.

However, I was not satisfied; I kept on saying to myself that the maker of Brokeback Mountain would imply something even deeper. What intrigued me was if the tiger was actually Pi (in the second version of the story), who was Pi in it? There is a scene in the movie, where Pi is shown as getting angry, after he sees the Orangutan getting killed by the hyena. Immediately after this scene, the tiger pounces on the hyena and kills it. Interestingly, this is the first scene where the tiger is shown in the boat. (In the second story, it is revealed that Pi’s mom was killed by the cook, and in his anger, Pi killed the cook)

It makes sense when you think that the tiger was just a manifestation of Pi, probably a manifestation of the animal instincts in Pi. The tiger (his animal instincts) wanted to kill and consume Pi, but he kept away from it. He kept on hiding from it, and escaping it, until he finds a way to tame it. He lets the tiger go inside the boat (probably, bury deep inside his conscience), and learns to live with it. Even if it was this tiger (primal instincts in him) that keeps him alive, gives him hope, and helps him hold together,  when he learns to live with it, he makes sure that, it does not overwhelm his goodness.

They reach an island together, probably a symbolic representation of religion. Religion shows you a shade when you are tired, food when you are hungry. You have the option be like the colony of Meerkats obeying all the aspects of the island (religion), hiding yourself at night when it turns carnivorous. It is interesting to note that Meerkats are usually found in deserts and they are burrowing animals. In addition to making the first story totally unbelievable, this might have something to do with the fact that Meerkats are not at all intended to stay in the island. The fact remains that, eventually, the whole group of Meerkets will be engulfed and that island will cease to exist. The island may not necessarily be religion itself, it could represent any such concept which on the surface seems nice and green, but actually is just floating around without any direction, waiting to take you in. Pi decides to move on, as he was not willing to lead a half life, which would eventually take him in.

Finally, he reaches the Mexican shores, where he sees the tiger (animal instincts in him) for the last time. The primal side is buried deep inside his subconscious now, and he never has to take it out again, as he is with his fellow human beings.

So, what is "And so it goes with God"? To be frank, I am still in the process of figuring it out. The only link I can form with god is what I mentioned initially. Even if it is totally unreasonable, and illogical, many people believe in god, as they associate a hope with it. It makes us dream, dream for betterment, better humanity, better life, and what not! Yes, even being an atheist, I would prefer the first story over the second, because it talks about the same hope and love, which is what I believe as "god".

I am sure there are many more subtle meanings conveyed in the movie, like the name “Pi”, an infinite number, which probably implies that it is not the story of a single person, but about the “infinite life” that exists in the world. Waiting for watching the movie a second time now :-)

The “Bal” legacy

I could understand the millions who participated in the funeral procession of Mother Teresa, E K Nayanar, or even Princess Diana.  But, when I saw that almost the same number attending the funeral procession of the “Marathi hero” Bal Thackeray (BT), I was a bit surprised. Not that, it was least expected, but somehow I could not understand that millions could agree with him on his “Maharashtra for Marathi” or “India for Hindu” slogans. That is when I decided to spend a few minutes to analyze what exactly he has accomplished.

When I was a kid, every morning I take the newspaper and quickly glance through the main page before turning over to the sports page, to see if there are any bendhs, so that I could sit at home. I am sure BT would really have been a source of relief and happiness for many kids like me, and I could understand how small kids would develop an instant liking for him.  Not only kids, even teenagers would have loved BT. He was the guy who stood up for them during Valentine’s Day. I know a lot like me, who find it so hard to have a girlfriend. We used to be very depressed when lovers go to parks, exchange roses or kisses, and not to mention, Valentine’s Day was our doomsday. The way he stood up for us, and harassed and drove off the lovers is admirable!

When we grow up, and as adults, we worship “heroes”, people who believe in what they say, and who walk the talk. BT was a true hero for them as well. He stood up for what he said, fought for what he said and was ready to kill for what he believed in. It actually does not matter that, he stood for divisive politics or rather communal politics, and that he instilled hatred for Muslims/South Indians/North Indians in the mind of ordinary Marathis. Just that, he was a hero and a non-hypocrite, that is all that matters!

Again, he was an indirect inspiration to many. There was a time in Bollywood, when it was a pain in the ass to watch Hindi films. RGV along with Amitabhji (both vocal supporters of BT), came up with Sarkar, a movie applauding parallel government. Indeed, it was a big relief, compared to the usual dull Bollywood crap. Even during his death, he would not forget the ordinary people. There were a number of shopkeepers, officers, businessmen who badly wanted to see the India-England match. All the shops were shut down, offices closed and they were happily home. He even helped a lady and her friend to visit the prison premises and verify if “all is well”.

On a serious note, I cannot help but feel surprised when people try to support Bal Thackeray. The claims of him helping the development of mills, various roadways in Maharashtra (not to forget Mr.Gadkari was in charge of PWD then), and preventing Mumbai from being swallowed by the underworld, might all be true. Probably I am too short sighted, for I cannot see a person as two, separating his positive side from his negative. I cannot just comprehend with the fact that in spite of his hatred articles, comments, communal attitude, there are “neutral and non-communal” people who actually liked him. Not to mention, the Mumbai riots, and the communists he had massacred!

P.S: Some points mentioned here are inspired from topics in Quora, and are not entirely mine :)

Standing up for all the wrong things…

Sitting lazily on a Friday afternoon in office, it is not surprising that your mind wanders, and that too much faster than your watch. Today, I was immersed in thinking of what all values I was taught when I was a kid, what all I used to love and feel passionate about, and what among those would I teach my child.

As I have covered my views on religion in my previous blogs, I am not going to drag that over here again. At least till my child reaches an age where he can think independently, he/she will be brought up as an atheist, or at least an agnostic. I would like him/her to know and understand that life is not fair, rather than polluting his thoughts with “everything happens for good”, and that there is someone with a remote “up there” controlling your life. I would probably teach him/her that truth will hurt, and suck, but it will never make you regret in life.

There was a time when I was passionate about being an Indian, probably even for being a Keralite. I would keep on bragging whenever possible about all these. But, then someday you realize that you being born or brought up in a place, has nothing to do with you, and that it is not something that you deserved or earned. Now, when I think of it, I find it completely wrong and shallow when a person talks so. Patriotism is only a false emotion, triggered in you by your surroundings, to infuse a difference, to make you think that you are better off/worse than people living in some other geographic location. Even our history text books do not help us here, other than portraying some as heroes, and the rest as zeroes!

I loved the Indian cricket team, and probably more than that, I hated the Pakistan team. In between, somewhere, I realized that Afridi and co. are not responsible for the Partition of India, the Kargil War, or the 26^th November attacks. I realized that Gary Kirsten and co. did not treat native Africans as slaves. I comprehended the fact that Vaughan and co. did not enforce divide and rule in India. I am sad that I had to learn it the difficult way, and it was too late. 

By the time I started realizing all this, I seem to be beyond change. Now when I consciously try to root for a team like Pakistan (who need a win to boost their economy, to make other countries play in Pakistan), I see that I just cannot do that. For sure, I do not hate Pakistan now, but when it comes to Pakistan vs India, I always side with India. I hope time can make me mature enough or at least old enough to forget all the hatred instilled in me, so that I can plainly think of everyone as humans, even if they are portrayed as Pakistanis or Africans or Americans.

Being patriotic, even if in the most righteous sense of the word, creates differences. I think only people who sacrifice their life for the country can be called patriotic, and no one else. I hope for the day when governments across the world will think of armies as a dispensable unit, and patriotism as evil.

Now, when I think of it, being a human itself has nothing to be proud of. In fact, I think they are the sickest possible animal that one can ever be. We think ourselves as the most intelligent species that inhabited earth. It is an irony that we have medicines for the deadliest diseases, but yet many starve to death. When we think that we live in an “advanced technological” world, somewhere else, people commit suicide because they fail to feed their young ones. It is a surprise that people living in some air conditioned room can order a war to kill helpless millions. It intrigues me that we continue to make nuclear weapons powerful enough to wipe out our fellow beings. At least, the law of jungle is to kill for food! We, humans, are the most insecure beings ever to have surfaced the earth, that we have reached a stage where we get satisfied and happy, only when we see others’ miseries.

My wife often tells me that I am highly optimistic. For once, I hope my optimism pays off, so that I can tell my child something other than “You are born as the sickest animal, the world is going to be annihilated soon, and you should neither have faith nor be passionate about anything!”

and then you realize you are in IT industry!!!

What you do: 

1)      Usually, you come at time for your work, and leave at the right time.

2)      Whenever there is extra work, you stay back a little, complete the work and go back.

3)      If required, you work on weekends.

4)      If you make mistakes, acknowledge it, and correct it.

5)      You do your work properly, with good quality, and keep up with your schedule.

6)      You come up with solutions for difficult issues, in a very short time.

7)      Even if the assigned work is junk, you do it without any complaints.

8)      You do not poke your nose in others’ work, and others’ business.

9)      You do not care what others think of you, do not involve in unnecessary discussions, and small talks.

10)   You laugh only if you like the joke, and talk in the meeting, only if you feel that something is there to be shared with the team.

11)   You interact with the colleagues for getting work done.

12)   You don’t talk to anyone for the sake of talking or because you and that person are alone in the lift.

Result: 

1)      Dogs are treated better than you are.

2)      You lose all your respect, and your dignity.

3)      You end the year with the worst rating, and the least salary hike.

What you do: 

1)      You come really late, and stay back late as well.Many just notice the time you leave.

2)       If required, you work on weekends.

3)      If you make mistakes, argue that it is not a mistake, and then if no other go, blame it on the next person.

4)      You keep up with your schedule, but your work is of poor quality.

5)      You do not come up with solutions for trivial issues, leave alone the difficult ones.

6)      You do only junk work.

7)      You poke in every other person’s work and you lose your sleep because of your insecurity.

8)      You think about what others think of you, involve in unnecessary discussions, and small talks.

9)      You laugh if your lead or senior is cracking the worst possible joke ever!

10)   You interact with the colleagues for each and everything, making them think that you both are invaluable and can’t live without one another.

11)   You talk just for the sake of talking, and not because you want to talk.

Result:

1)      You are treated like a king/queen.

2)      You maintain your dignity, as you do not have one.

3)      You end the year with the best rating and hike.

 

Rashomon...

You just need to watch Rashomon to understand why Akira Kurosawa is considered one of the finest directors in world cinema. For most of the viewers, it is an unsolved crime told in an interesting yet different fashion, and he/she can try to arrange the puzzles to form a solution. For movie freaks, it is much more than that; in addition to being a fine work of art, it conveys beautifully a simple message through a complex movie.

One can easily gather from the movie, that the main idea conveyed was that there is no absolute truth. We see 4 different people narrating a story, in completely different ways. While each of them tells their version of the story, the idea expressed is simply how much one’s perspective can distort reality. Or in the deeper sense, that there is no absolute reality. Reality is relative. We could relate it to the story of the blind men and an elephant, where 6 different blind men touch different parts of an elephant and each of them assume, interpret and argue that elephant looks like the part they touched.

Now, probably to what was mainly conveyed through the movie - the rationale behind the different stories. None of them were lying to protect themselves, as one can notice from the bandit’s and the lady’s story, they say they might have killed the samurai. Obviously, protection from law is not what mattered. In the bandit’s story, he glorified himself; he portrayed himself as a brave and a great warrior, who easily lures the lady. In the lady’s story, she portrayed herself as a helpless victim, trying to stand in dignity. In the samurai’s version, he was portrayed as being noble, brave, and the best thing he could do was committing suicide. In the woodcutter’s version, he is portraying each of the 3 characters equally culpable, which makes his act of stealing the dagger a trivial one. Even though, we tend to go with the woodcutter’s story because he is a neutral person, we cannot believe his as well, as he was the only person who admitted that he was lying (earlier).

In each of the version, we see that the person is glorifying themselves. It is not protection from law that mattered, but protecting one’s own ego. In every one’s story, we see the story-teller polishing his character so as to suit his ego. It portrays the insecurity in humans, the fact that no humans can survive without lying to themselves and creating a make-belief world where they seem to be a better person than they actually are. A simple message that no human is completely honest with himself!

All said, probably, the movie also conveys the message that no man is truly evil. One of the important character in the movie, the priest, keeps on saying about his faith in mankind, and in the climax, we see that it is restored. Probably, a subtle message that being a liar or a thief is not the lone way to judge one's character is also included.

Other than the message conveyed in the movie, the way in which the movie unfolds, the way the characters are molded, the way the 3 characters differ in the different versions, the acting, the sensuality of the woman, all plays a great role in shaping the movie into a masterpiece. For instance, the initial scene in which the woodcutter walks through the forest till he finds the dead body is breathtaking. We walk with him, and when he stands still seeing the body, we also freeze. Even such a trivial scene, shot with amazing beauty and intelligence, is what makes Kurosawa one among the best!

Usually, when a movie ends without a climax, or when no solutions are provided to the crime, I end up a bit frustrated (exception being Nolan’s inception). Have to admit though, this one left me fascinated!