Patakha Gudi

 Lok Laaj Ki soch soch ke kyu hai aafat daali?

 

The above mentioned lines are from the song patakha gudi from the 2014 movie Highway. I watched this movie recently.So is it a review blog? Not at all.Who am I to comment on fancy cinema terms that I don't even understand.But I would talk( or write)..right! about how beautifully the movie captures the very essence of life that is self discovery even in troubling situations.Or how our problems are blessings in disguise at times.

Veera, seemed to be a typical damsel in distress initially.Later on as the story proceeds, one realises how her picture perfect life was flawed.Her quest for liberty ironically begins after being kidnapped.Her vulnerabilities eventually become her strength when she shows up the courage to fight.She develops a fondness for her abductor, Mahavir.His character was also multi layered.Besides being a kidnapper he was conscience sttricken.Veera and Mahavir had a troubled childhood which had deeper imprint on their personalities.

On one hand where veera's elegant society would hesitate from accepting harassment within their own household and on the other hand Mahavir's society normalised crime against women.It reveals both ignorance and normalisation of societal problems and issues is dangerous.

'Bhagna sab chahte hai magar bhagta koi nahi hai'- veera had a very hard hitting monologue in the end where she acknowledges the fact that she realised who she was after being kidnapped.It was a journey she never wished to end.A world that chose her and eventually she started choosing it.As at the end to live is to choose.

The tragic end of the movie can leave one in tears but gives a very crucial message that besides living in the society which intricately shapes our beliefs and ideals we have to constantly strive to shape our own ideals without thinking of 'Lok lajja'.

Lok lajja is something which holds us back from doing what we really love. Today, it was raining in the evening.Out of nowhere there came a hooded girl in the society park.She sprinted around aimlessly jumping in the water puddles.She was simply laughing at herself.No one was capturing her.Forget capturing, there was no one except her.She was truly a patakha gudi! So, the entire point is;

Lok laj ki mat hi soch.

ASMITA