Monday, October 9, 2023

From Screen to the Page- Thought provoking Drives towards the humanity

 

While discussing the current situation in the country with one of my friends, we both thought the lack of good movies that effectively connect with our current lives and address social issues. "Maaveeran" is a notable exception in my opinion. It beautifully unveils a story that underscores the power of inner voices, emphasizing the importance of humanity.

It's been quite some time since the release of the movie "Maaveeran" on Amazon Prime. I watched it recently, and it reminded me of the Tamil novel "Kaadhugal" (THE EARS) by S V Venkatram, which was suggested by our agent Vikram, also known as Kamal Haasan, in a private TV show. In a nutshell, this novel features a protagonist, much like our Sathya in "Maaveeran," who not only hears his inner voice but also voices from the outside world. It explores how he attempts to overcome these voices.

The sun was at its peak, and I found myself stuck in traffic. After enduring the scorching sun for some time, a reflexive action took over, and I began to press my bike horn. My inner voice started to erupt, and I began to lament the irresponsibility of the driver who had caused this situation. My inner voice began to deviate from reason, and I shouted within myself, "Why aren't you people moving?" The air-conditioned car in front of me and the surrounding vehicles were emitting heavy carbon dioxide, and my inner voice remarked, "All of this contributes to the greenhouse effect, causing a sudden increase in Earth's temperature, and I might die of heat right here." On the more constructive side, I realized that my time was evaporating like a non-renewable resource, and I couldn't replace it.

My focus shifted to the first vehicle leading this traffic jam, wondering what the problem was and when it would be resolved. Was there an ambulance stuck in the queue? In this short time, I oscillated between moments of egoism and humanism. My inner self continued to pose several questions and answer them, almost like a podcast that I could only listen to. My brain seemed to descend from my head as it engaged in a conversation with my inner voice, asking, "What if everyone's inner voice could be heard by the person they were thinking about?" If someone were thinking about me in their inner voice, I could hear their thoughts.

Now, in this frustrating situation with voices echoing all around, everyone would be thinking about the same truck and its driver obstructing the entire passage. All their inner voices would be broadcasted to the driver in our fictional scenario at lightning speed. To quote Buddha, "everyone's life is a suffering in some way."

Twenty vehicles behind, people would be talking about how all other drivers were habitual offenders, causing their suffering. Ten vehicles behind, people's inner voices would be complaining about the truck driver's lack of driving skills and irresponsibility. But the person right behind the truck would know the exact reason and feel pity, saying, "Oh, he got stuck," rather than accusing him of obstructing the passage. From the moment he got stuck, he would work to resolve the situation because he was the one directly affected.

However, as he tried to resolve the issue, he would have to endure the incessant honking from behind. He couldn't close his ears, and he had to manage his emotions, knowing that others were judging him. He wanted to attend to his own affairs, but with others observing him, he had to navigate the situation carefully. In this situation, the driver wished for someone to clear the way for him to move forward, even if it was just a push from behind or a helping hand from the front. Spectating and reviewing while others were stuck was not the essence of humanity. Helping someone who was stuck benefited not only him but also everyone dependent on him.

I heard the inner voice of the driver, "Someone out there, please help me; I'm stuck." So, I parked my bike to the side and went to assist him in clearing the obstruction. My help to him became a help to all of us. I stood by the side, and the procession began to move. Gradually, the inner voices faded, and happy faces replaced them. I received an inner voice message from the RBI Governor, thanking me for helping him in maintaining inflation. I looked at the truck, and it was carrying an essential commodity – humanity.

 

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