Sunday, December 23, 2007

The Greatest Game Ever Played....

Hi friends,

There is one thing in my life that always troubles me – My ability not to “cry” at all, even in the most serious circumstances ever. I can count events in my life when I have cried right on my fingertips. They are so rare that my crying or coming even close to it is a sort of a change and a new feeling for me.

The last time I remember crying was when I was seeing the movie “Dead Poets Society” (Inspiration for our Bollywood flick “Mohabbatein”). I was seeing this movie for the third time and in the scene when almost all the students stand on their desks as a mark of respect for their teacher really made me cry. I was almost in tears and was not able to control them. I was suddenly missing home and my parents. I really wanted to go back home. This was close to December, 2006.

The most recent event happened just a few hours of my actual leaving for home. I was watching the movie “The Greatest Game Ever Played”. The last 5 minutes of the movie were perhaps the most sentimental moments of my life. When I saw the faces of the father and the son (Francis Ouimet) when they look at each other after the son had won the US Open, was really emotional. It bought tears to my eyes and had it not been for my self-control, I would have burst into tears. The reason was again the same – I was missing my dad. I could see my life in the life of Francis Ouimet. His dad did not want him to take up Golf; my mom did not want me to do MBA. But my dad encouraged me and so did Francis’ mom. When I was selected into the IIMs (or for the matter when I scored 99.92%ile in CAT), it was my mom who was the happiest person on earth.

I always used to tell you, my friends, that friends and friendship are the most important parts of one’s life. But as I look back, I see that my first and true friends for life have always been my mom and dad. They have been with me through all the facts of my lives. They stood by my decisions even when they felt I could be wrong. As I look back, I find that they always thought for my personal good. They wanted me to do IIT because they felt I was capable. I wish I could have studied more.. Perhaps I would have been an IITian… Perhaps...

The only reason I liked this movie was that it had the message I always like to hear – “If you want it and work towards it, you can have it”. When Harry Vardon said “If Mr. Ouimet wins tomorrow, it’s because he deserves to win it and it doesn’t matter who his father his or what he does; All it matters is who he is and he is the champion.

Just look at the top-3 in the tournament – Francis was an amateur, Harry Vardon’s dad was a peasant and Ted wasn’t exactly one would call a Gentleman. None of them would have actually won, had it not been their passion for the game. It’s not the country that matters – It’s the game.

This movie was a perfect drama. It connected with me and it will always have a special place in my heart. Mr. Ouimet and Eddie Lowery are inspirations, true ambassadors of Golf. I am happy that I was one of the few people in this world to have enjoyed this movie. My recommendations: See the movie with your entire family. Don’t let the game of Golf influence that decision as this movie is not about Golf – It’s about Ouimet, who is as ordinary as you and me and yet dared to be extraordinary. It’s about life and it’s struggles. It’a about family and friends. It’s all about inspiration.

Do see this movie; This was one movie that I knew would be good when I had just seen the trailer. And it surpassed all my expectations.

Mr. Francis Ouimet, you have a new fan, one who is going to become to you what Harry Vardon was to you – An idol. Wish you the very best in all that you do in life.

Ciao.

4 comments:

Dainty Damsel said...

wow. a great review. Skimmed through many posts of yours. Waiting to grab your movie collection.Marking your words about the review:)

My recco: October Sky, Patch Adams, Shawshank Redemption, Pursuit of Happyness

IIM ka Sarkari Babu said...

Thanks a lot!!!

I haven't seen Patch Adams yet... The rest were seen before I started writing about movies... Will write their reviews soon...

Anonymous said...

hey its nikhil, i loved that movie too, especially because it all took place in Brookline, MA. Although, my favorite movie of all time still has to be either the Shawshank Redemption or Friday Night Lights

IIM ka Sarkari Babu said...

Hey dude

Been a long time since I saw you dude.. Yes, in terms of the qualiy of the movies, Shawshank Redemption ranks in my Top 3 movies... I love it for the great picturization and Tim Robbins/Morgan Freeman combinaton...

But I am a sci-fi or Comedy fella, and so my favorite so far has to bee "Thank You for Smoking".. Great parody on the tobacco companies.. And also gives a lot of value to a person's frame of mind... Do see that...

I didn't see Friday Night Lights yet.. Will see that soon... What is ur email id? Is it that Comcast one? Please mail me at nitk.varun@gmail.com