A fore note - In my previous blog - i meant 'switched off' as a mode where one is less indulged in the pleasures of an entertainment, but rather the one who reviews it in a 'lower indulgence' mode. Before i go any further, let me say these comments are a reflection what i saw on the movie; i clarify this because, people form their own opinion and view, from the same set of words.
In this case i review it from the angle that Kamal has taken a subject of science and religion to portray both brings evil with it, whether we like it or not. This is such a turning stand from him, given his afflictions to narrow atheist views. I don't mean turning to a theist's view but a balanced view that he tries to find himself as well as try to put it across to the audience. To get the argument across, he has used his acting skills in 10 dimensions, so he could leave a stamp on Filmworld's history. So his personal aim in some sense has clouded his argument - that's where he has failed to deliver or may be succeeded ! - I will come to this point in the end.
Kamal's 11th role is quite underplayed, but that's the important role that we should be reviewing. That's his role in Story, Screenplay and Dialogue. Some subtle dialogues clearly portray the viewpoint- He starts with a chaos theory view and mentions a religious war in India in 12th century and rubs in a line - 'a time when no Islam or Christian gods were there to war, the locals warred using Indian Gods' I think this is such an important quote to reflect - religious hatred existed/exists irrespective of which religion you follow - (Hinduism like to identify themselves as peace loving - note: i consider Buddhism as part of Hinduism) So he has chosen an intra-Hindu religious aggression to convey that point and moves onto science and its menace. As he moves on, another line is thrown in - why did one Hindu god allow its follower to kill and the other Hindu God let its supporter to die in spite of fighting for the God's cause?
Now moving onto Science and its problems - actually science in its own conceptual world is not a problem, the scientists or the people again are the problem-doers! But he well mixes it with the people like the Dalit, the Muslim family, the 95-year old grandma to show humanitarian sides as well.
All in all, he has attempted very well to put a holistic view that People are just different and problems or happines is all self-created! Finally, he quips 'It would be nice, if Gods existed' - the theist heroine who's supposed to marry him is happy that he has reconciled his stand about Gods without understanding what he actually meant!
So goes back to my question - has he failed or succeeded?
If i say he has succeeded, then its indeed a success, coz' i treat it so; but a failure because many others don't agree or do not find the arguments shared similar to my review?
If i say he has failed, coz' he has clouded the argument with his personal aspiration of ten roles and the screenplay defects, then its indeed a failure; but in a way he has succeeded in his argument that it's - inherent human nature to be flawed!
A finishing comment: So if our human nature is inherently flawed - could a scientific solution actually solve it or a religious awakening acknowledge it and move on?
The saivite/vaishnavite war is overhyped which is not even in a scale of 1 or 2 compared to religious war among abrahamic faiths. ex crusade war.
ReplyDeleteThe religions shaivism,vaishnavishm,shakthism, buddhism, jainism were mutually influencing each other compared to enmity among the central east faiths.
You remember Tamil kings chola, chera, pandya were fighting together some 1000 years back. Does it make them so worst than us?
So we may be mocked for fighting with pakistan may be in 30th century?
Does the chowri chowra or nethaji way of fighting makes us a country that got independence through non-ahimsa?
But having said that your reviews where very neutral and good.
Hello Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteI think overhyped is a term which is overhyped :) you really cannot compare religious wars across the world. Everyone feels equally victimised. So many factors get in with these sort of wars. In fact quarelling against distinct religious thoughts is different from the ones Intra-Hinduism had and has.
I miss your points on connecting the Indo-Pak & Independence movements... Give me some clarity as how those relate here? (Check my previous posts in 360.yahoo on India Pakistan)
Good, but to be precise the heart of chola kingdom is uraiyur, tanjore. Srirangam would have been easy target by the same chola king rather than just Govindaraja perumal. So it seems to be a one-off odd situation, rather than a big war between shaivism and vaishanvism.
ReplyDelete>In fact quarelling against distinct religious thoughts is different from the ones Intra-Hinduism had and has
>> you missed the point here.
Just like saivism / vaishnavism accept vedas but their personal god is different. All the abrahamic faiths accept the old testament but xtians and muslims branched into bible and kuran. so its the same intra situation rather than inter.
> I miss your points on connecting the Indo-Pak & Independence movements... Give me some clarity as how those relate here?
Fighting for religions makes us look bad, ok atleast now.
Fighting for a country or language wont make it more bad may be 200 yrs after? Just assume there is only 1 country in year 2200. Those ppl might be mocking may be say India/pak who were fighting among themselves other and ppl losing their lives for a country - which might be nothing in year 2200 :)
Hope i am not boaring you :)
hmm just i was thinking something called 'Car Parking Theory'. I'll explain this in a different post.
As pointed out by kamal before xtians, muslims we need some god to argue and fighting for shiva and vishnu. I think it is the weakness and also strength of human brain which picks up an argument not only in god but also in anything.
To finalize, i request you to have a posting on why human brain like arguments? Some arguments are healthy some goes to the next level of killing others who dont accept us.
Next post i'll want to you cover some more topics. If it interests you, u can blog them.