Friday, October 19, 2007

"Happy Days" are here again...

Hi friends,

A couple of years ago, one of my best friends asked me if I had seen “BOYS”. When I said that I didn’t, he just asked me, “Why are you living in this world? Just go and drown dude.” (This is just the translation of what he said to me in Telugu). After seeing that movie, I realized what he meant.

Now after seeing “Happy Days”, I would like to ask all of you the same question – Did you see it? If you haven’t, ask any of your Telugu friends for a copy of it or get a copy with sub-titles and see it. If you really want to what Telugu movies have turned into now-a-days, then there is no better movie to give you an answer than “Happy Days”.

“Boys” to “Bommarillu” to “Happy Days” – the transformation has been great (especially for the young crop of actors inthe Telugu industry). The first dealt with the aspirations and fantasies of the youth, the next one dealt with the problems faced by a youngster (with whom I could easily relate to) and the last one dealt with the college life in-toto. Each movie was unique in its own way, special in a way that touched the hearts of the youngsters all over the South.

But Happy Days overshadows them all. The first two movies were specific, but this one covered all areas. Everyone, from the love-struck guys to the studious persons to the parents of these brave souls, all of them had a part in this movie. I could relate to many of the characters themselves as each of us faced a similar issue sometime in our college life.

What issues you may ask? Ragging, friendship, lecturers, classes, canteens, fights, love, hatred, betrayal, aim, ambition, sacrifice, beautiful teachers – the list is endless. Every aspect from pesky seniors to ambitious classmates was dealt with. If ranked, I would give it 9.9 on 10 for the director’s efforts – Hats Off sir!!!

Two points really hit me in this movie (there I go again, can’t help it man!). The first was the sacrifices made by Tyson for his “ungrateful” friend Shankar. Tyson is as close as you can get towards perfection. He chases a girl relentlessly even though he is her junior. Then he gives up his ambitions to give the CSE seat to Shankar. He tries to warn Shankar about his GF, but gets beaten up in the process. When Shankar realizes his mistake, he embraces him back. That requires guts, courage, selflessness and a magnanimous heart. What happened to him was not that fair, but he took it in his stride and changed his plans accordingly. He is really the guy one can ever dream of becoming.

The second point was the last two scenes – the interaction between the students and their Dean. It was beautiful as it reminded me that in the midst of all that fun, there was also the actual aim of the college – to groom the next-generation leaders. In the words of the Dean himself, "College is not for you to achieve anything; It is to prepare you in order to achieve something in life”.

How many of us felt that way? I can count a handful of us in college who really felt that way (I was not one of them). All of us thought that college was the stepping stone for future achievements. Some of us felt that it was just another “necessary evil”. Some brave souls genuinely felt that it was only time for masti and fun and nothing more. But a few felt that it was a breeding ground for the leaders and engineers of tomorrow. That is what a college is for my friends. We may have fun, see movies, play football, eat without thinking about the consequences, but all boils down to this: “Did whatever you do make you a better person? How does this help you become the future of your country? Can you do your bit in making your country a superpower?”

The Dean also said in the ending: "Today is the end of the most happy days in your life, and the beginning of the most purposeful days in your life". He can’t get truer than this. What we do now is as the future citizens of our country, not as college students. We are now more responsible for our actions. Whatever we do will reflect in our economy – our spending habits, our preferences, our jobs – everything. I always wanted to do MBA because I was after the money in it. I felt it was quick way to make easy bucks and enjoy the rest of my life. But I was not placed here for that – We need future leaders. We need people who can lead our country out of corruption and poverty. We need hope. We have a vision (as put by Mr. Kalam). But we need executors of that vision.

I have never felt stronger than this. I am now clear on what I want to do. Mr. Kalam, you have one staunch follower. Whatever I do from the day I graduate will be one step towards the realization of your dream. I will try to do my part. I hope all those who read this will do the same.

Jai Hind!

2 comments:

Savitha Gopu said...

Good summary. Even I fel the same thing when I saw the movie

IIM ka Sarkari Babu said...

thanks akka!!!