A story, Udaan and 3 Idiots

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it!”

I was emailed this motivating story by a friend of mine. In a short and simple manner it tells its readers to continue to have faith in themselves and not to forget their self worth whatever the life’s difficulties. This will give you the courage to chase your dreams even amidst strong opposition. Rohan’s character in the film Udaan exemplifies this.

Suspended from a boarding school in Shimla, Rohan (Rajat Barmecha) is sent back home to start living with his father Bhairav (Ronit Roy) in Jamshedpur whom he hasn’t met in eight years. On returning he finds a six year old step brother Arjun (Ayan Boradia), whose existence he wasn’t told about, waiting for him. Their father, a strict authoritarian, compels them to live their lives by his rules. For example, his sons must address him as “Sir” and not Papa. Every morning he makes them get out of bed. While Arjun has to stand at the gate with a stop watch, Rohan has to join him for a 40 minutes jog around the city. On reaching close to home the two have to break into a race in which inevitably Rohan loses however hard he tries.

Rohan wants to study literature and become a writer. He even has a diary whose pages are filled with his stories and poems. But his father is set against it and forces Rohan to work in his factory during the day and study engineering in the afternoon. Despite his father’s unflattering remarks on one of his poems, he continues to write.

Much of Bhairav’s anger and frustration is vented on his children. One such occasion results in Arjun’s hospitalization. As Bhairav has to go on a business trip he leaves behind Rohan to take care of Arjun. In the absence of their disciplinarian father the two brothers come close. Their happy and peaceful days are short lived. Back from tour when their father comes to know that Rohan has failed his engineering exams, he burns the much treasured diary.

Then one day his father announces that he is going to get married a third time, send his younger son to boarding school and make his elder son quit studies entirely to join his factory full time. Rohan’s Uncle (Ram Kapoor) tries to reason with Bhairav but it leads to an altercation between the two brothers.

Time is moving. A prospective bride is brought home. Arjun’s suitcase is being packed. Rohan’s friends taunt him. He thrashes his father’s car and spends a night in jail. His tolerance threshold crossed, Rohan tells his father he is leaving the house. Rohan runs with Bhairav close on his heels and for once the father loses the race. Knowing that his younger brother needs him, Rohan returns but only to take along with him Arjun before he can be packed away to boarding school. The two brothers walk away hand in hand with smiles on their faces and hope in their hearts for a beautiful future which they will carve out on their own.

Udaan’s underlying theme of pursuing your passion instead of the course decided by your parents is the same as that of 3 Idiots. But I feel it is Udaan that really scores over 3 Idiots in every way. It showcases how you don’t need (a) a 40 something Aamir Khan to play an 18 year old, (b) witty dialogues in every situation, (c) caricature characters like Virus and, (d) a great location like Ladakh for making a scene look beautiful, to bring home the message.

It is indeed the absence of the above 4 elements that makes watching Udaan a heart warming experience. The manner in which the bonding between Rohan and Arjun is developed is very endearing. The day to day activites such as when Rohan goes out at night taking without permission his father's car, his deliberately spending a long time in front of the mirror, and Arjun's being made to carry messages up and down the building between Bhairav and Rohan bring in a realism without boring the viewer. Along with Rohan we feel every bit of his sadness at parting ways with his school friends, his angst against his father, his helplessness at not being able to change the circumstances, his happiness when his talent gets recognized by unexpected quarters, his struggle to beat his father in the morning races and his exhilaration at the flight or udaan he takes as he narrowly escapes from his father's clutches and breaks free.

In a line, Udaan is a perfect blend of a good story, right casting, sincere performances, fitting music, engaging editing, and bang on target direction.

3 Idiots

Some years back I was browsing through the bookstore Crossword when I noticed a book titled "Five point someone - What not to do at IIT!". I was attracted by the reference to my alma mater and bought it immediately. When I was through with reading the book I somewhat felt disappointed. It didn't make me any happier when I heard that Raju Hirani was going to make a film based on it featuring my favourite actor Aamir Khan.

3 Idiots released close to Christmas. Initially I wasn't in a mood to see it because of my grave doubts. The good reviews and the juntas comments on Aamir Khan's blog however got me curious.

For once I thought a movie managed to beat the book that inspired it. It had lots of witty dialogues, smart situations, and a decent emotional content. I enjoyed 3 Idiots. But I did not love it. Unlike the two Munnabhais and Taare Zameen Par it just did not leave me moved. Perhaps the film was too entertaining. I understand the need for telling a message in an engaging and lighthearted fashion. But everything does not have to be turned into a joke like the struggles which Raju's (Sharman Joshi) family faces in lieu of supporting his engineering degree. This is a story of many a students coming to study at IITs or for that matter at medical schools. For me it is not a laughing matter. The funny means by which the other two idiots Rancho (Aamir Khan) and Farhan (Madhavan) help Raju recover from his suicide attempt takes away from the seriousness of the situation that had lead him to take the drastic step.

Further, I thought that the teaching community had been unjustly represented only through the characters of the Dean (Boman Irani) and other professors who insult and make fun of the three lead characters all the time. There are three cases of suicide in it. The race for coming first and the grueling learning system adopted by the engineering college which are responsible for two of these deaths is never really shown.

Except for Rancho and Farhan no one seems to have pursuits beyond studies. You just have to attend one of the several competitions in the areas of dramatics, music and art or the events in the yearly IIT festivals to know this is not true. Innovative ideas are not exactly squashed either. In IIT Bombay's famous Robotics festival you can see innumerable displays of cutting edge designs developed by students coming from all over India to participate. It is now commonplace even in colleges to invite well established figures to deliver keynote lectures at special occasions to inspire the youth to use their talent.

I do agree when the film says that one must pursue what you are passionate about. Some in audience have wrongly come out thinking that it says don't be a doctor or an engineer. Instead it drives home the point that by all means take up that profession but only as long as your heart is in it and not just because it has been mapped by your parents for you from the time you were born. My point however is that you might not really know after class 12th what you want to be. You might need those years in college in order to discover yourself and your passions. Like it is for Farhan to come to a conclusion that he should afterall pursue photography. Of course he knows it would also require him to work hard and struggle but at least it would be for something he loves.

To give 3 Idiots its due it does tell us an important message which could have got lost in all the frolic and entertainment. In Baba Ranchod Das Chanchad's words don't chase success, chase excellence. If you do the latter then success will automatically follow. But if your goal is simply earning big bucks then at some point you may end up taking a wrong route to it. I loved what Aamir Khan said in an interview I caught on tv. Instead of asking our children how many marks they scored in tests or did they come first or second in exams we should ask them did they help their friends, did they do something nice or did they bring a smile on someone's face during the day. Then automatically the focus will shift from the running madly in a race to becoming well rounded individuals with caring hearts.

Taare Zameen Par

Taare Zameen Par (TZP) was one film that I was looking forward to see, it being the directorial debut of my favourite actor Aamir Khan. I finally got a chance to watch TZP on Sunday. It turned out to be a really wonderful treat.

I simply adored the expressions of kids that were caught on camera while their Principal was giving a speech in the morning assembly. I loved the scene where Ishaan's mother notices all his wounds while the neighbourhood Aunty was complaining about his misbehaviour. I could feel Ishaan's anger, pain and loneliness at having been sent off to boarding school as punishment. I cried along with him as the song Ma... played in the background. While the art teacher Ram Shankar Nikumbh's entry brought a smile on my face. How he slowly but surely manages to bring about a change in the attitudes of other school teachers, softens Ishaan's parents' hearts and also helps Ishaan realize his true potential forms the second half of the film.

The beauty of the film lies in its simplicity and naturalness. This wouldn't have been possible without the new kid on the block Darsheel Safary's wonderful portrayal of Ishaan; the refreshing story spun by Amole Gupte, the writer and creative director of TZP; the tight editing of Deepa Bhatia which never let the film slip away; lovely expressions of all the children captured by the photographer Setu and beautiful lines penned by the lyricist Prasoon Joshi. The two songs that touched my heart are Maa... main kabhi and Taare zameen par.... (Click on the links to read the Hindi lyrics and their English translations.)

A big round of applause also goes to Aamir Khan for his acting as the caring teacher and for his outstanding job as a director. I am sure his contemporaries and peers must be left exasperated. Here they are sweating out building 6 pack abs, getting 31 stars to appear in a song and spending crores for publicizing their films, while all Aamir Khan needs to create history is an 8 year old boy.

Aamir Khan succeeds in keeping everything about the film real which is why the audiences have connected so well with it. Though TZP is the story of a dyslexic child, people have on their own understood that the difficulties which Ishaan faces in school are encountered by many children. TZP tells us without how its time we stop breeding children as if they are race horses. It makes us realize that all we need to give kids is love and care to show them how special they are.

Taare Zameen Par is truly in Aamir Khan's own words a film dedicated "to children, and childhood."

My comments on Lagaan Blog (3)

Click on the titles below to see Aamir Khan's posts.

POST: Ghajini

I haven't seen either Ghajini or Memento so can't suggest any hindi title for it. Ashutosh Rana and Atul Kulkarni are great actors who would excel in the villain's role. Rana's postman in the movie Dushman was really creepy.

I have got to mention this one of my friends Lalitha is a huge fan of Surya. So she felt really pleased when I told her that it was Surya who persuaded Aamir Khan to accept the offer of remaking Ghajini. :)



POST: Its Memento not Momento

Instead of calling a film bad you instead say that it didn't work for you. That's very decent of you. But some films are terrible and leave you wondering what made the producer spend so much money.



POST: Of Federer, fans, Fanaa and Films

I saw the Federer and Nadal match. It was awesome. Both the players were on equal footing. But I was on Feferer's side. I was watching a tennis match after a long time and it was worth my every second's attention.

I was not expecting Fanaa to be purely a love story. When Rehaan is revealed as the mastermind behind the bombings I thought something interesting would happen. So the second half was a let down. But the dialogue "aap Rehaan ko utna pyaar nahi karte jitna woh aapse karta hai" became a hit. My brother-in-law loved your performance in Fanaa. In his own words you gave a realistic performance. I am sure whether people liked Fanaa or not they could not have left feeling unimpressed by you.

Like with many things it is indeed difficult to please everyone. But some of your films have managed to touch the right cord with people however different they may be.

According to me a movie should entertain as well create awareness or teach something. It should leave you with something to ponder over. Munnabhai series and Rang De Basanti are classic examples. Even Lagaan and JJWS tell that if you put your heart and soul you can achieve even what looked unattainable.

Just as our political, administrative, legal and educational systems sometimes fail us so have movies even in fulfilling what you've called the "primary responsibility of entertaining".

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A reminder: As with my previous posts on Lagaan Blog these comments too are directly addressed to Aamir Khan.

My comments on the Lagaan blog (2)

Click on the titles given below to see Aamir Khan's posts.

POST: Creating Bhuvan

That was a highly interesting read. The post provided me an insight into the inner workings of Aamir Khan's mind. What more could I ask for?

Bhuvan is a highly lovable character. You love him for his innocence as he declares that cricket is not very different from gilli danda and you love Bhuvan for his naughtiness when he knowingly acts that he doesn't know of Gauri's affections. You love him for his courage as he accepts the sharat eventhough he is unaware of what it will take to beat the Britishers at their own game. You love him for the way he stands up for his principles as he goes out of his way to convince the villagers of allowing the achoot (untouchable) Kachra to be a part of the Champaner team.

From the video clip your unshaven look goes very well with Bhuvan character. The moustache somehow wasn't clicking. May be you should have tried a stubble along with the moonch sort of like you had in the second half of Fanaa.


POST: 26 June 2007

Naya Daur and Lagaan are similar in the sense that both highlight the indomitable strength of the human will power which can achieve even the impossible. In the former its a win over mechanization and in the latter over the foreign rule. The story of Naya Daur is infact significant even today's times as automated offices are gaining preferrance over those run by men and women. In a country where many are unemployed the first option should not even be considered as an option.

Coming back to your post Aamir... Is the procedure used to decide which scenes of Lagaan to delete applied to all your films lately? How do you keep the details about the films in secrecy then?

I understand the point of your act appearing effortless despite all the efforts that you put into while preparing for a role. Its the same while giving presentations in front of an audience. You have to practice enough so that you don't skrew things up at the same time what you speak shouldn't sound well practiced. But ofcourse there is no semiconscious state to be achieved in this case. :)


POST: 28 June 2007

I am so glad to learn that Aamir Khan has given up smoking! This is something which you must initiate other people specially youngsters to also follow.

The Sachin Tendulkar incident was indeed funny.

The one dialogue that I specially love from Lagaan is Bhuvan's description of the relation between Lord Krishna and Radha as "kamal ke patte par os ki bhoond jaisa. ek bhi nahi hue aur alag bhi nahi". The whole sequence of scenes in which Bhuvan stands up for Kachra is amazing. He doesn't sound preachy or saint-like but simply right.

Check out these dialogues here.

My comments on the Lagaan Blog (1)

I've decided to write my comments on the Lagaan Blog here else they get drowned in the sea of comments already put by people for each of Aamir Khan's posts. His last post has already received 708 comments!!

You might find it funny my addressing to AK directly. :-)

Click on the titles below to see the Aamir Khan's posts.


POST: First step. Aamir.

Welcome to the engaging world of blogging Aamir Khan!

I had always thought that the late release of the Lagaan DVD was some mastermind stroke of yours. I remember you being hailed as a shrewd businessman for the way you publicized Lagaan so its a surprise that the 6 years delay was caused by your ignorance as a producer.

Ofcourse people are still interested in Lagaan. It is one of a kind. You just have to do a google search to find out for yourself. I myself had recently posted on my blog lyrics of all the songs and some dialogues from the movie. Its obvious the Lagaan effect has not dwindled with time and everyone will throng to buy its DVD. The film is a classic.


POST: Refreshing

It is shocking to read that Aamir Khan is scared of using the the computer! How can it be so? You are in a field which is creative and at the same time very technical. Complete movies are being made using computer graphics!! And managing a blog is really easy. People have used it as a medium to write books, to launch campaigns and to publicize companies.

"A while" doesn't describe the years your website has been in the construction mode. I have lost hope on ever seeing it in an active state. If you had really wanted to start it you would have done so by now.

I would love to know more about the making of Lagaan. Why not tell about incidents that have not been talked about in either Chale Chalo or Spirit of Lagaan.


POST: Do I need to give a title each time?

A title gives the reader an idea of what the post is going to be about. Its like the taglines which all movie names are accompanied with these days. I remember Lagaan's was "Once upon a time in India". So yeah... I'd prefer if each post had a title.

Why would you require to spend 3 months in a village in UP to prepare for the role of Bhuvan? What if you were to play an astronaut in a film? What if you were to be a scientist in a movie or a politician? What if you were to act in a dark movie on the underworld?

Lagaan (3): Aamir in Blogsville!

Surprise surprise!!! Aamir Khan has plunged into the blog world!!! His entry has been coupled with the release of the Lagaan DVD after a gap of 5 years since the time the film was first screened in India. Check out: The Lagaan Blog.

The first post was put by Aamir on 17th June, 2007. So this blog is really new. The posts have been inundated with hundreds of comments. And why not. The Lagaan Blog has given all Aamir Khan and non-Aamir Khan fans to interact with him first hand!!

Isn't this exciting!! My day was indeed made today!! :)

Lagaan (2): songs

The music of Lagaan has been composed by A. R. Rahman and the lyrics have been penned by Javed Akhtar. Each song has been aptly placed in the film. So here along with all the lyrics I'll also mention a little of the story around the points where the songs appear.

Ghanan ghanan...

The movie is set in a village called Champaner which is facing drought. As the narrator Amitabh Bachchan says "sookhi aankhen aankhen aakhash tatol rahi hain" (parched eyes are looking at the skies in hope). And then suddenly the villagers see dark clouds coming their way and in the excitement of the possibility of rain and all the beauty that it will bring, start singing:

Ghanan ghanan ghir ghir aaye badra

Ghane ghanghor kaare chaaye badra

Dhamak dhamak goonje badra ke danke

Chamak chamak dekho bijuria chamke

Mann dhadkaaye badarwa

Mann dhadkaaye badarwa

Mann mann dhadkaaye badarwa

Kaale megha kaale megha

Paani toh barsaao

Bijuri ki talwar nahi

Boondon ke baan chalaao

Megha chaaye barkha laaye

Ghir ghir aaye ghirke aaye

Kahe yeh mann machal machal

Na yun chal sambhal sambhal

Gaye din badal tu ghar se nikal

Barasne waala hai ab amrit jal

Duvidha ke din bit gaye

Bhaiyya malhar sunao

Bijuri ki talwar nahi

Boondon ke baan chalaao

Ghanan ghanan...

Ras agar barsega kaun phir tarsega

Koyaliya gaayegi baithi munderon par

Jo panchi gaayenge naye din aayenge

Ujale muskura denge andheron par

Prem ki barkha mein bheege bheege tan mann

Dharti pe dekhenge paani ka darpan

Jaiyyo tum jahan jahan

Dekhiyo wahan wahan

Yehi ik sama ki dharti yahan

Hai pehne saat rangon ki chunariya

Ghanan ghanan...

Pedhon par jhoole daalo

Aur unchi peng badhao

Kaale megha kaale megha
Paani toh barsaao

Bijuri ki talwar nahi
Boondon ke baan chalaao

Aayi hai rut matwaali bichaane hariyali

Ki apne sang mein layi hai saawan ko

Yeh bijuri ki payal yeh badal ka aanchal

Sajaane laayi hai dharti ki dulhan ko

Daali daali pehnegi phoolon ke kangan

Sukh ab barsega aangan aangan

Khilegi ab kali kali

Hasegi ab gali gali

Hawa jo chali toh rut lagi bhali

Jaala de jo tan mann woh dhoop dhali

Kaale megha kaale megha

Paani toh barsaao
Bijuri ki talwar nahi

Boondon ke baan chalaao

Ghanan ghanan...

Mitwa...

Bhuvan has accepted the sharat (condition) of beating the British officers in a game of cricket to get pardoned from having to pay lagaan (taxes) for three years. If he loses the whole province will have to cough up triple tax. The task is monumental. But with sach (truth) and saahas (courage) on his side Bhuvan starts gathering his team. As he sings aaja re aaja re... he asks the villagers to join him and have hope (aasa) that better days come (sukh bhare din aayenge).

Har sant kahe sadhu kahe

Sach aur saahas hai jiske mann mein

Anth mein jeet usiki rahe

Aaja re aaja re

Aaja re aaja re

Bhale kitne lambe ho raste ho

Thake na tera yeh tan ho

Aaja re aaja re

Sunle pukaare dagariya

Rahe na yeh raste taraste ho

Tu aaja re

Is dharti ka hai raja tu yeh baat jaanle tu

Kathinaayi se takara ja tu

Nahi haar maanle tu

Mitwa sun mitwa tujhko kya dar hai re

Yeh dharti apni hai apna ambar hai re

Tu aaja re...

Sunlo re mitwa...

Jo hai tumhre mann mein

Wo hi hamre mann mein

Jo sapna hai tumra

Sapna wo hi hamra hai

Jeewan mein

Haan... chale hum liye

Aasa ke diye

Naynan mein

Diye hamri aasaon ke kabhi bujh na paayen

Kabhi aandhiyan jo aake inko bujhaaye

Mitwa sun mitwa...

Sunlo re mitwa...

Purwa bhi gaayegi

Masti bhi chaayegi

Mil ke pukaaro toh

Phoolon waali jo rut hai

Aaayegi

Haan sukh bhare din

Dukh ke bin

Laayegi

Hum tum sajaayein aao rangon ke mele

Rehte ho bolo kahe tum yun akele

Mitwa sun mitwa...

Har sant kahe...

Radha kaise na jale...

Elizabeth has started helping the villagers to learn cricket. She is invited to the celeberations of Janmashtami (Lord Krishna's birth). Gauri is feeling jealous of the attention Bhuvan is bestwoing upon Elizabeth. The situation is not different from the jalan (jeaolousy) felt by Radha on seeing Lord Krishen surrounded by beautiful gopis. Gauri uses the song to express her own fears.

Madhuban mein jo Kanhaiya kisi gopi se mile

Kabhi muskaaye kabhi chede kabhi baat kare

Radha kaise na jale? Radha kaise na jale?

Aag tan man mein lage

Radha kaise na jale? Radha kaise na jale?

Madhuban mein bhale Kanha kisi gopi se mile

Mann mein toh Radha ke hi prem ke hain phool khile

Kisliye Radha jale? Kisliye Radha jale?

Bina soche samjhe

Kisliye Radha jale? Kisliye Radha jale?

Gopiyan taare hain chaand hai Radha

Phir kyon hai usko biswaas aadha

Kanha ji jo sada idhar udhar dhyan rahe

Radha bechari ko phir apne pe kya maan rahe

Gopiyan aani jaani hai Radha toh mann ki raani hai

Saanjh sakhare nadiya kinare

Radha Radha hi Kanha pukaare

Banhon ke haar jo daale koi Kanha ke gale

Radha kaise na...

Mann mein ha Radhe ko Kanha jo basaaye

Toh Kanha kahe ko usse na bataaye?

Prem ki apni alag boli alag bhaasa hai

Baat nayanon se ho Kanha ki yehi aasa hai

Kanha ke jo nayana hain

Cheen gopiyon ke chaina hain

Mili najariya hui bawariya

Gori gori si koi gujariya

Kanha ka pyar kisi gopi ke mann mein jo pale

Kisliye Radha jale...

Radha kaise na...

O ri chori...

Bhuvan finally confesses to Gauri that he loves her and cannot think of a life without her. Gauri tells him the truth of him being the only one for her. Oblivious to this is Elizabeth who has developed feelings for Bhuvan. She is dreaming her own dreams of being with Bhuvan and sings happily in the confines of her palace "Yes I'm in love".

O ri chori...

O ri chori maan bhi le baat mori

Maine pyar tujhi se hai kiya

Tere bin main jiya toh kya jiya

Tere nayanon mein yeh jo kaajal hai

Sapno ka baadal hai

Mann tere hi kaaran pagal hai

O goriya...

O re chore...

O re chore dil se nikle bol more

Maine pyar tujhi se kiya

Haan... main tujhko hi maana hai piya

Tune thama aaj yeh aanchal hai

Mann mein ek hulchul hai

Main na bhooloongi yeh woh pal hai

Sawariya...

My heart it speaks a thousand words

I feel eternal bliss

The roses pout their scarlet mouths

Like offering a kiss

No drop of rain no glowing flame

Has ever been so pure

If being in love can feel like this

Then I am in love for sure

More mann mein...

More mann mein thi jo baat chupi aayi hai jabaan par

More dil mein kahin ek teer ho tha aaya hai kamaan par

Sun sun re sajan rahe janam janam

Hum prem nagar ke baasi

Thaame thaame haath chale saath saath

Kabhi doori ho na jara si

Chaloon main sang sang teri raah mein

Bas teri raah mein

Sawariyan...

Koi pooche toh main boloon kya ke mujhko hua hai kya

More ang ang mein hai sugandh jo tune hai chu liya

Tan mehka mehka mann behka behka

Mujhe tu gulaab si laage

Jo hai yeh nikhaar aur yeh singaar

Toh kyon na kaamna jaage

Tera ujala ujala jo roop hai

Yauvan ki dhoop hai

Goriya...

O ri chori..

Yes I'm in love...

O re chore...

Chale chalo...

The Champaner cricket team is formed. Bhuvan, Deva, Ismail, Arjan, Baagha, Bhura, Lakha, Kachra, Goli, Guran and Issar Kaka are now waiting for the day to come when they'll be able to beat their oppressors at their own game. They are encouraging each other to keep going as they sing:

Baar baar haan bolo yaar haan

Apni jeet ho unki haar haan

Koi humse jeet na paaye

Chale chalo chale chalo

Mit jaave jo takraave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Ghan ghor andhera chaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Koi raah mein na tham jaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Toot gayi jo ungli uthi

Paancho mili toh ban gayo muthi

Eka badhta hi jaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Koi kitna bhi behkaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Koi na ab roke tujhe toke tujhe

Tod de bandhan saare

Mila hai kya hoke tujhe nirbal

Tu hi bata

Kabhi na dukh jhelenge khelenge

Aise ke dusman haare

Ki ab toh le lenge

Himmat ka rasta

Dharti hila denge sanko dikha denge

Raja kya parja kya ho...

Hum jag pe chaayenge ab yeh bataayenge

Hum logon ka darja kya ho...

Ab darr na mann mein aave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Har bedhi ab khul jaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Chala hi chal haanf nahi kaap nahi

Raah mein ab tu raahi

Thakan ka saanp nahi ab tujhe dasne paaye

Wohi jo tera haakin hai jaalim hai

Ki kai jisne tabaahi

Ghar uska pachim hai yahan na rukne paaye

Dharti hila denge sanko dikha denge
Raja kya parja kya ho...
Hum jag pe chaayenge ab yeh bataayenge
Hum logon ka darja kya ho...

Jo hona hai jo jaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Ab sar na koi jhukaave

Chale chalo chale chalo

Baar baar haan...

O Paalanhaare...

The final day of the 3 day test match remains. The Champaner team is 99 for 4. It is way behind reaching the final target of 323 runs. With Ismail's leg badly injured and other good batsmen having got out Bhuvan has to somehow achieve the near impossible with help of the weaker members. In despair all the villagers call out to God (Paalanhaare) to bring them out of the darkness (andhiyaare) into the light (ujiyaare).

O Paalanhaare nirgun aur nyaare

Tumhre bin hamra kaunhu naahi

Hamri uljhan suljha o bhagwan

Tumhre bin hamra kaunhu naahi

Tumhai hamka ho sambhaale

Tumhai humre rakhwaale

Tumhre bin hamra kaunhu naahi

Chanda mein tumhai toh bhare ho chandni

Suraj mein ujaala tumhai se

Yeh ganan hai magan

Tumhai toh diye ho ise taare

Bhagwan yeh jeewan

Tumhai na sawaaroge toh

Kya koi sawaare

O paalanhaare...

Jo suno toh kahe

Prabhu hamri hai binti

Dukhi jan ko dheeraj do

Haare nahi woh kabhi dukh se

Tum nirbal ko raksha do

Reh paaye nirbal sukh se

Bhakti ko shakti do

Jag ke jo swaami ho

Itni toh araj suno

Hain path mein andhiyaare

De do vardaan mein ujiyaare

O paalanhare...

O paalanhare

O paalanhare

Lagaan (1): dialogues

Lagaan is one of my all time favourite movies. I have seen it n number of times but on each time I watch it with an enthusiasm as if it was a first. Every time I get all excited when the film reaches its climax.

I had first seen the film in Delhi in 2001 after having finished with a series of MSc entrance exams. I was pretty crazy about Aamir Khan then (still am) and when the titles showed "Aamir Khan Production" I felt a rush as if I had only made the film. I found the music and the images rolling in the background during the titles very grand. It was but a slight flavour of what was to come. The cast, the costumes, the setting, the music and the dialogues just blended perfectly.

I had the real experience of watching Lagaan in the IIT Bombay Auditorium. It was jam packed on the night on the screening. There were people of all age groups. Old uncle-aunties who needed walking sticks for support, bachas and bachis, and ofcourse all IIT students... everyone turned up in full flow. Or as some ads say "overfull" flow. From the word go the audience was in raptures. We were clapping at every scene. People were reciting dialogues simultaneously with the film. There was such excitement towards the second half of the movie when the cricket match begins. Everyone was hooting, shouting, whistling, dancing, jumping with joy as Bhuvan scores a six on the last ball leading the Champaner team to victory and relief from teen guna Lagaan.

I haven't seen any other film following Lagaan to get that kind of response and this makes it even more special for me.

I am putting here some of favourite dialogues. The favourites amongst the favourites are typed in italics.

Mai: Hey Ram! Bakhat se pehle hi khushiyaan!

Arjan: Chaon dena ped ka dharma hota hai. Hum toh sirf itna jaan-na chahit hain ki aakhir bhookhe pet kab tak unki malaalein gaadhe? Kab tak unki kodaamein bharen?

Bhuvan: Mukhiya ji! Chahe dahine haath par dharo chahe baayen haath par… lagaan toh humka dehi ke padi. Hum toh kehit hain ke sab jane milke rajmahal chalo aur Rajaji se baat karo. Ee baadal unse chupe nahi hain. Unse kaho ki ee saal hum lagaan nahi de payenge. Ekho daana bhi nahi.

Bhuvan: Toh phir saari alag-alag ungliyan ki muthi ban jaaye Mukhiya ji.
Mukhiya: Matlab tum ladoge?
Bhuvan: Agar jaroorat padi toh woh bhi.

Mukhiya: Tohar khopadi ghoom gayi hai. Rajaji ke saath gustaakhi karoge toh khud toh dooboge hum sab ka bhi laike dooboge.
Bhuvan: Abhai kaunsi zindagi sukh bhog rahi hai. Doobe nahi hain ka?
Mukhiya: Jo bhi ho... lekin hum poore gaaon par dhool nahi udhne denge.

Out! (Umpire raises finger pointing towards the sky.)
Bhura: Baadal aa gaye ka?

Rajaji: Yeh ladka toh waise bhi naadaan hai.
Capt Russel: Itna bhi naadaan nahi hai.

Capt Russel: Lekin yeh mumkin hai. Bataata hai. Theek hai hum lagaan maaf karega. Lekin ek shart hai.
Mukhiya: Sharat? Ka sharat hai?
Capt Russel (to Bhuvan): Tum... idhar aao. Kya kaha tha tumne hamare khel ke baare mein? What did he say? Sadiyal. Bhadda sa khel hai. Tum is khel ke baare mein kya jaante ho?
Bhuvan: Bachpan se khelat aa rahein hai. Hum ika gilli danda kehte hain aur aap na jaane kaa.
Capt Russel: Cricket! Toh tumhara yeh kehna hai ki yeh cricket tum khel sakte ho.
Bhuvan: Haan. Aasaan hai.
Capt Russel: Theek hai. Toh main lagaan maaf kar deta hoon. Lekin tumhe is khel mein humein haraana hoga. Shart yeh hai ki tum humko is khel mein harao aur hum tumhara lagaan maaf kar dega.
(Rajaji laughs in bakground.)
I am serious. You beat us in this game and I’ll cancel your tax.
Lekin kahin tum haar gaya toh tum humko triple tax yaani tin guna lagaan dega. Theek hai. Bolo sharat manzoor hai?
Team member: Sir I think the cat has caught his toungue.
Capt Russel: Quiet. Theek hai hum shart badhata hai. Tum humko is khel mein haraoge toh tumhare is saal ka toh kya hum agle saal ka bhi laagaan maaf kar dega. Hai manzoor?
Villagers: Bhuvan kuch mat kehna! Chup rehna! Kuch mat bolna!
Capt Russel: Theek hai. Hum sharat aur badhata hai. Sirf ek saal ka hi nahi agle do saal ka lagaan maaf kar dega. Yaani teen saal. Sirf tumhare hi nahi saare praant ka. Ab manzoor hai?
Villagers: Humka phasaane ki khatir gaddha khod raha hai!
Capt Russel: Tum bolo. Dugna lagaan doge ki sharat manzoor hai?
(Long pause.)
Bhuvan: Sharat manzoor hai.

Mukhiya: Hum toh pehle kehit rahen kaunhu badi bipda aa sakat hai. Nahi kehit rahen Bhuvan?
Bhuvan: Aur kaunhu chaara tha? Main poochon tha kaunhu chaara? Ka kar sakte the hum? Dugna lagaan jabardasti nahi hai? Bhare ki taakat hai? Bataiye? Bhar sake hai koi? Ee bipda nahi hai Mukhiya ji hai mauka. Hum sirf jos ma haan nahi kiye hain. Choolhe se roti ko nikaalne ke liye chimpte ko apna mooh jalaaike padi. Maanat hai. Maanat hai ki hamar palda halka hai. Par ee maa umeed toh hai. Aur yehi umeed ka hum sacchayi maa badhalna chahit hain. Ee khel hai hamare khet khaliyan ke liye. Bhool gaye agar jeete toh teen saal sukhi rahenge. Teen saal! Zara socho! Teen saal kaunhu lagaan nahi. Jaane ho eeka matlab? Matlab hamaar anaaj hamra apna hoga. Kisiko daana nahi dena padega. Ee ma hamre bachon humri humaare gaaon ki khushaali hogi. Humra paseena hamare tan mein khoon ban ke daudega.
Arjan: Sabaas! Choti choti aakhen aur bade bade sapne.
Bhuvan: Haan Arjan. Hum sapna dekhat hain. Aur sapne wohi saakar kar sakat hain jo unhe dekhat hain.

Gauri: Bharosa hai mohe... tujh pe... tohri himmat pe. Bas itna hi kehne aayi thi.

Bhuvan: Sau kaude manzoor hai magar hum maafi nahi maangenge.
Rajaji: Maafi ki toh ab baat hi nahi uthti. Ab jo kar diya hai use bhugato.
Mukhiya: Toh phir ka karen Maharaj?
Rajaji: Unka khel seekho.

That is out Sir! (Umpire raises finger towards sky.)
Tipu: Oo phir se aasman ki taraf ungli kahe dikha raha hai?
Bhuvan: Yehi toh humhu samajhne ki kosis kar rahein hain.
Guran: Apni amma ko yaad kar raha hai. Upar baithi hai na!

Goli: Bhuvan toh ka humra lagaan maaf hoga?
Bhuvan: Haan Goli.
Goli: Ka hum bhar pet khaayenge? Ka hamare sapne sach honge? Bhuvan tu gili chutki mein namak pakad raha hai!
Bhuvan: Bharosa kar Goli. Sach aur saahas hai jike mann mein anth mein jeet uski rahe.

Ismail: Dekh! Dekh! Ek Angrez chori hamra tan-pet bachaane ke khatir gaaon ki madad kar rahi hai. Aur hum gaal phoolaye baithe hain. Laalat hai sasuri! Alaah nigehbaan. Humein Bhuvan ka saath dena hi hoga.

Ismail: Bhuvan. Taang se kapda hate toh poore tan ki laaj jaave. Maine us din jo bhi bura bhala kaha uske liye main sarminda hoon. Aur ee kosis maa main tumhare saath hoon. Maula kasam. Namaaz ka imaan nahi gawaya hai.
Gauri: Kitni badhiya baat hai Bhuvan. Ismail bhaiyya ne kitni himmat badha di. Ab kaun hai rokne waala!

Bhuvan: Ka dekh rahi hain Memsaab?
Elizabeth: Yeh statute... murat kiski hai?
Bhuvan: Yeh Radha-Kisen ka mandir hai Memsaab. Bhagwaan Kisen aur Radha ji ki murtiyan hain yeh. Aaj Kisen ji ka janamdin hai. Isi liye humne in murtiyon ko sajaaya hai.
Elizabeth: Kya yeh pati-patni the?
Bhuvan: Arrey nahi-nahi Memsaab. Kisen ji ki shaadi Rukmini se hui thi aur Radha ji ki Anay se. Lekin dono mein bahut gehra prem tha. Jo ek misaal ban kar reh gaya. Aap samajh lo kamal ke patte par sabnam ki boond jaisa... ek bhi nahi hue aur alag bhi nahi.

Gauri (about Lakha): Bhuvan isse hargiz mati lena. Mann ka kaala hai.

Elizabeth: Tum khel ke baare mein kya jaante ho?
Deva: Do baatein Memsaab. Agar gend phenkoon toh teeno lakdiyan di dhajjiyan udha doon. Aur jo agar kheloon toh gend nu cheer ke rakh doon.

Bhuvan: Ae Gauri. Saare gaaon mein ek hi ghar hai jike aangan mein neem ka ped hai. Bagal ma bada sa khet bhi hai. Ek joda bel, do gaay, teen bakriyan bhi hai. Aur main jaanu hoon pagli ki woh ghar mora hai. Aur ek baat sunti ja. Tu Mai ko pasand bhi hai.

Mukhiya: Goron ke saath ladna dharm hai. Par ek achoot ka saath laike poora doodh bhrast nahi hone denge hum!
Bhuvan: Kachra. (Touches him.) Doodh par choot achhot ki chaap lagai ke doodh ko aap bhrast kare ho. Saare gaaon ki saans ee choot achoot ki dohe se kahe ghot rahe ho Mukhiya ji? Chamdi ke naam pe mann ko chalna kaunhu nek kaam hai ka.? Phir kahe pujte ho raam ji ko jinne sabri ke jhoote ber khaaye? Jo bhagwaan sabki naiyya par lagawat hai uki naiyya ek choti jaati ek naawik ne paar lagaayi. Ee sab jaan ne ke baad bhi choot achoot ki baat kare ho! Aur aap Issar kaka... aap toh vaid ho. Peedha harte ho. Rogi ki naadi parakh karke uka ilaaj karte ho. Ka aapka sastra yehi kehta hai ki achoot ka ilaaj na kiya jaaye? Uka marne diya jaaye? Agar aisa hai toh ee insaaniyat ke naam pe sabse bada kalank hoga. Aaj ke baad koi bhi vaid ko Bhagwaan ka doosra roop nahi maanega.
Lakha: Oo sab chod Bhuvan. Tu toh tagda khiladi chahe tha na. Ee Kachra toh lula hai.
Bhuvan: Tere haath salamat hai na. Devi maa meherban hai Lakha so keh raha hai. Magar jis kalai ko tune lula kaha hai wohi hamri sabse badi taakat banegi dekh lena. Ee bejaan sa panja hi humein jeet dilayega. Ek baat sab logan ka yaad dilayi doon. Yeh sirf khel nahi hai jo hum aapke manoranjan ke liye khel rahe hain. Yeh ek ladayi hai jo humka jitni hain. Hamara maksad sirf ek hi hai. Lagaan se mukti. Gaaon ki khushaali. Aur uke vaaste main marte dam tak main kisi ke saamne nahi jhukoonga. Aap log mera saath de ya na de magar Kachra khelega!
Issar kaka: Bhuvan beta. Jo aakhen poori tarah se khul gayi hon unmein toh saram bhi nahi aa sakat.
Arjan: Main Issar bhai ki baat se sehmat hoon. Tum theek kehte ho.
Mukhiya: Kachra humre saath khelega!

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PS: Lyrics of some of the songs from Lagaan I am reserving for the next post.

Its rainin

For the past two days we've been having some wonderfully romantic weather thanks to the pre-monsoon showers blessing the Pune city. There are many hit Hindi film rain songs from the olden days. But my favourite is from a recent movie Fanaa. The fact that the song featuress Aamir Khan serves as an added bonus for me.

I love the lyrics of Yeh saazish hai boondon ki... which have been penned by Prasoon Joshi. I am putting them down here and am highlighting those lines that I really like. :)

Yeh saazish hain boondon ki

Koi khwaaish hain chup chup si

Yeh saazish hain boondon ki
Koi khwaaish hain chup chup si

Dekho na dekho na

Dekho na dekho na

Hawa kuch haule haule zubaan se kya kuchh bole

Kyon doori hai ab darmiyaan

Dekho na dekho na

Dekho na dekho na

Phir na hawaaein hongi itni besharam

Phir na dag mag dag mag honge yeh kadam

Ho saawan bhi seedha nahi khufia bada

Kuch toh baraste hue keh raha

Samjho na samjho na

Samjho na samjho na

Hawa kuchh haule haule zubaan se kya kuch bole

Kyon doori hai ab darmiyaan

Dekho na dekho na

Dekho na dekho na

Jugnu jaise chaahat dekho jale bujhe

Meethi si mushkil hai koi kya kare

Hmm hothon ki arzi aaise thukraao na

Saanson ki marzi ko jhuthlaao na

Choo lo na choo lo na

Choo lo na choo lo na

Hawa kuchh haule haule zubaan se kya kuchh bole

Na doori hai ab darmiyaan

Dekho na dekho na

Dekho na dekho na

Aamir Khan's different strokes

Baby Aamir

My QSQT-pie hero

Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke's Chikni soorat Khan

A very Rangeela Munna Bhai

Playing Daddy Dearest in Akele Hum Akele Tum

Being a Rebel and not a Ghulam

An Honest Cop with Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna

Lenny baby's Ice-candy waala in 1947 Earth

Kishen Pyaare Nautankiwaala starts a Mela of hearts

Re Bhaiyya Choote Lagaan!!

Mera Dil Aamir Khan Chahta Hai

Mangal Mangal Mangal Mangal (Pandey) Ho!!

Painting the world yellow in Rang De Basanti

Proclaiming tere ishq mein meri jaan Fanaa no gayi

Nothing like the real :)

Shero-shaayari from Aamir Khan films

Fanaa

Bhool ke humse jo bhool ho gayi ho
Toh bhool samajh kar bhula dena
Lekin bhulaana sirf bhool ko
Galti se bhi humein na bhula dena

Dur humse jaaoge kaise?
Humko bhool paaoge kaise?
Hum woh khushboo hai jo saanson mein baste hain
Apni saanson ko rok paaoge kaise?



Sarfarosh

Milte hi nazarein dil milaaya nahi jaata
Aaghaaz ko anjaam banaaya nahi jaata

Phool khilte hain bahaaron ka samaa hota hai
Aise mausum mein hi toh pyaar jawaan hota hai
Dil ki baaton ko hothon se nahi kehte
Yeh fasaana toh nigaahon se bayaan hota hai



1947-Earth

Husn ki chakki chali
Ek daana phas gaya
Tum phase toh kya phase Dilnawaaz
Saara zamaana phas gaya