Sunday, February 11, 2007

Of Omkara, clarity and tragedy

Watched Omkara. Amazing direction, acting, everything. But as I watched the movie, there was this constant feeling that I may end up feeling sorry for somebody if I get involved with the story (I knew the plot beforehand). I considered watching the movie in several sessions - 1 hr today, may be a half tomorrow and then may another half an hour or 15 mins the next day - just to avoid watching someone being wronged, even if it is just a fiction. But indecision about when exactly to stop resulted in a single session viewing. Thankfully, it was not too bad. I didn't feel for the characters that strongly. In the end, it was okay as far as I am concerned. Omkara dies, Dolly dies, Langda Tyagi dies, his wife (Konkana Sen) dies. So there's no one left to live a miserable life of repentance or to brood over the past. Kesu most probably succeeded Omkara and the confusion with Bips - what was her name? - must have resolved. In any case, it didn't come out from the movie that Kesu had any specially strong feelings for Omkara or Dolly. So, after may be a month or two of mourning, it will be okay for him. So it was all okay. Things would, of course, have been different if I believed in life after death. As Omkara says - 'shareer se to mukti mil jaayegi, par aatma .....'
Another thing: I often wonder why people don't talk clearly. I mean, just confront the other person and give him a chance to speak. Before shooting the guy, let him know what his fault is. He may lie through his teeth if that's what he does, and there's a risk you may believe the lies, but you are much better off not crucifying somebody for nothing. If he is guilty you have the satisfaction that he died knowing that he paid for his mistakes. Dying is no punishment. The realization that what you did was a mistake, is. Though this was an extreme case, the need for getting rid of round about talk holds a lot of significance even in normal circumstances. World would be so much simpler if people just talked clearly and stopped relying on the other guys intelligence to interpret insinuations and subtle hints. But there are risks too. Sometimes, if you do insist on clarity, you may be considered stupid, or an android, or in certain circumstances, even worse. Trust me, I speak from personal experience.
Finally, why do people make tragedies? All stories should have happy endings. At least the fiction stuff. What good does a Shakespearean tragedy - which is so tragic that it does not even have the excuse of being realistic - do? Why do writers set out to make a tragedy? If the story is something which can not have a realistically happy ending, its fine that it ends in a sad way. Hazaaron Khwahishen Aisi is a good example of that. Making a Mrityudand which deals with women in general is much more pertinent than making a Daman in which a woman is tormented by her psycho husband. The former is realistic and relevant while the latter is a forced tragedy.

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