Taare Zameen Par

How often we see movies, which not only get the intellectual/critical acclaim but also get across the general masses effortlessly by putting a strong message in a creative way? I believe rarely. Taare Zameen Par is one such movie, which not only is a masterpiece of direction, cinematography, screenplay and performance but also makes us realize the spirit of freedom, the sense of colours and the desire within every human being.

Most of us while watching the film will feel that this is the story of our own house; this happens with us in school, our dad speaks in the same manner; very minutely each and every scene of the movie is created keeping in mind the regular trend in every household, now and then experiences in school, neighbourhood, and of –course as Aamir says, “in this competitive world.”

The movie is about suppressed aspirations, imagination and innocence of an eight-year-old boy who is forced to live up to the standards set by the society, where every one has to live up to the expectations of others, where for any one to ‘fit’ in it has to think the way and work the way others are doing.

There is just no room for people who want to think differently or who choose not to be a part of this ongoing rat race. The rule is that either you are in it or else you’re non-existing.

Nikumbh Sir, in the movie says, “97.5% , 96.7% , 95%, isse kam tu gaali ke barabar hain.” Similarly I use to think what will happen when everyone will start scoring 100%, in a tussle to be the topper, this day is not far. In this country intelligence is counted on marks you get, no matter the topper has spent all the night rutting the answers, we never look beyond it, teachers, parents never care to develop the intellect of the child. All we are doing is proving a bookish knowledge.

The most intelligent ones are those who are in the Science section, Commerce sections are one step behind and please don’t talk about the Humanities section – they are there just because they didn’t get the ‘good’ marks.

Arts, craft, physical education, sports, creative writing, such subjects are never emphasized in schools neither by parents because according to them they are not lucrative enough.

Other than being just lucrative for many of us it does not even sound good to say, ‘my son is a painter,’ ‘oh, he is doing hotel management.’ Just for the reason that the one standing in front of you might consider it menial.

The movie concerns the efforts of a "modern day" society who is concerned with achieving the goals it has set out and latter imposed upon those who never wanted them. They are on a road to what may be perceived as success and where everyone keeps a close track on the progress of others to compare.

There is just no space for innocent imaginations, street games, small-small gangs of children living in the same locality, long evenings of cricket matches, football, or those childhood games, since early childhood the burden of books is placed on small shoulders. Nowadays one hardly sees children playing on streets. Mothers’ of 5 years old are more concerned that their children must learn A for Apple rather than really knowing what Apple really is.

The questions come to mind that are we really free? May be politically, may be physically but what about the mind, thought, expression… why should we be burdened with the goals which we never set for ourselves, why should we let others dream for us? Why can’t we live distinct from this frozen world, in our own warmth? Find success as we defined it not as mentioned in the Webster’s dictionary. Every human is different and special let us recognize this fact soon, otherwise the moment is not distant when we will see robots and not children, where human emotions, morale, dreams all will be mechanized. Then only success will prevail not happiness, only wealth and not leisure, only people not humans.

Just step out of this status quo and yell out to the world.

A Little Sweet, A Little Sour

A Little Close Not Too Far

All I Need, All I Need

All I Need Is To Be Free

Open Eyed How I Run

How I Run To The Other Side

Open Eyed How I Run

How I Run To The Other Side

Then I Glide Like A Bird

I Just Want To Be Free

It happened one Day....

Usually I’m not the kind of person who will go around flirting on streets or any other place no matter the most wonderful guy sent by God himself is standing next to me and also it is considered unpleasant for a girl to behave this way in my civic but sometimes it does happen when you accidentally do something and it turns out to be much charming and memorable which certainly cannot be called flirting.

Though I didn’t want to start it by saying that it was one pleasant morning or it was one fine day…. err…. But cannot find a better start…so…

It was a chilly morning of 23^rd January 2007, me and my friend were going to our office, where we were interning. We were stopped at the road across the India Gate, Delhi, as the there was a dress rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade.

We were standing on the footpath in front of the Patiala House (the Delhi District Court), surrounded by all the old wretched lawyers and little kids from the NDMC School watching the Parade pass by, clapping and cheering the armed forces of our nation marching forward with pride, elegantly dressed in their uniform. One squad after other, one regiment after other then came marching forward the officers from the Naval force clad in their navy blue coat, I really couldn’t have recognized owing to my pitiful knowledge, if I wouldn’t have seen the symbol of an anchor up their sleeves that they were a Naval Squad.

I was cheering them and suddenly saw one smart officer marching, second from right in the last file, was looking at me, just in a moment, not thinking how to react and I just saluted him, he smiled and passed by, still mesmerized with the whole act I kept looking at his back.

In want to see him again, I did which never thought I would actually do (“following a guy”), I dragged my friend further, where the parade had halt to take a break, searched that squad where they were taking some refreshments and much to the embarrassment of my friend we walked through all the men standing there, while me all the time looking for that same guy. Finally I saw him standing in front of me drinking water, he grinned at me and said “Hi” I replied back saying “Hello”… wanted to actually talk to him more… but feeling shy and a bit awkward I couldn’t and walked forward with my friend, who was actually feeling weird of what all I was doing… and may be for the first time in all those years she has known me as a coy and righteous person who would never do anything objectionable, she must have thought that I’m actually a shameless creature. But least caring I said to her “let’s wait please, they will start marching again then I want to see that guy again…” so we waited in front of the Embassy of Iran for the Parade to start again much to her disgust.

The parade started again that squad was marching in front of us…I looked at that guy again, waved at him and he grinned again and winked at me…I was again awestruck…

I kept standing till his figure started to fade…the parade was to march till the Red Fort and we were destined to reach our office, which I could see right in front of my eyes. The little flirting…well yes would be called flirting, ended there.

For that moment I’d actually wanted to follow him till wherever they went but later thought that it’s better to go to my office and not get carried away with this mystifying interaction.

For a guy, this must be usual to look at girls and wink at them (while the girls not finding it repulsive) but may be something unusual for me...so thinking sensibly I walked towards my office and prize it as my first flirt.