I’m no movie buff. I’m not very well-versed in a variety of genres, nor have I watched any “underground” or “underrated” films whose genius solely I am privy to. However, there are so many films I have watched particularly from 2021 onwards that I enjoyed so thoroughly that being a character in said film would be a dream fully realised.
The first film I’d love to live in is “Whisper of the Heart.” Watching this film on New Year’s Day 2021 really struck a chord with me. Initially, I was bored by the slow-paced nature of the film, however the riveting second half and Shizuku’s hurried pursuit for her own motivations and passions led me to making it one of my favourite films of all time. In one sense, it’s paradoxical that I would want to live in this film as I see and feel so much of Shizuku’s growing pains in a sense, still being in my semi-nascent adolescent years (sixteen is fairly young, isn’t it)? Yet, I find that her support system in the form of Seiji and his grandfather are precisely what I wish I could also manifest into my own life-two beings who are willing to see the most unpolished forms of my craft and continue to encourage me throughout the journey. I particularly admire the movie's ability to create the character of Seiji- whose presence in Shizuku’s life is not solely reduced to being the catalyst for her change, as he too, is a character that is just as complex as her, with his own unique ambitions and creative goals. I’d love to be Shizuku, brave enough to create art regardless of what happens, whilst simultaneously having those external forces and inspirations in the form of those special interpersonal relationships (Seiji) to motivate you to pursue your own intrinsic desires. My favourite scenes in the films include Shizuku and Seiji singing country roads together, the concluding bicycle scene where they watch the sunset together all starry-eyed, in perhaps the most pure and compassionate exchange in the whole film, and the scene where Shizuku tirelessly works on her first script and presents it to Seiji’s grandfather.
Secondly, I’d love to live in the film “Wake Up Sid.” Although it’s one of the less-talked about Bollywood films, I think the general feel of Wake Up Sid is so cozy and ambient, permeated with good-vibes all around. The general crux of Sid’s journey of growing up resulting from Aisha’s presence in his life is somewhat reminiscent of the aforementioned Shizuku-Seiji dynamic, but I think Aisha’s own goals and ambitions were somehow even more fleshed out than Seiji’s. Aisha’s character in particular is what I would wish to emulate and live out-the ability to simply move out your comfort zone and start anew, carve out your own new life in a place entirely unfamiliar to you. Perhaps her strength and self-assuredness is what I want to imbibe for my own transition into university, being carefree enough to mingle and make new friends-the way she befriended Sid her first (or was it third? I don’t quite remember) night in Mumbai. Her drivenness and goal-oriented outlook towards her career as well speaks to me-I want to be able to fight and work hard to create a position or job for myself that I know I would love and would be an authentic representation of myself. Her gradual progression from friends to lovers with Sid is so subtle, but their bond is so wholesome and the final crescendo to Iktara and the Mumbai ki baarish is one of the sweetest scenes in Bollywood. My personal favourite however, is the especially warm and cozy birthday scene where Sid fashions a cake for Aisha with a bunch of toasted bread and jam slathered in between slices. The simplicity of their little “party, tum, mein aur do cup chai” is representative of how it’s not grand gestures that make up a relationship special, but more so the mere act of being comfortable and enjoying one another’s presence.
Thirdly, I’ve grown to love the film “Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani.” Regardless of people’s highly divided opinions of whether this film is overdone and rife with tropes, I think that it’s meaning is so universal and brilliant. Bunny’s ultimate goal in life is to avoid a conventional way of living, the overdone “bis mein naukri, chabis mein chaukri” leads him to wish for a greater world for himself; be a professional vagabond of sorts and explore every nook and corner of the Earth. Ultimately, his pursuit of his personal goals leaves Naina pining over him for eight years-until he realises that he is satiated with his life of udna and daudna , for what is life without love? This idea is perfectly epitomised in the lyrics of Kabira, wherein the verse of “Ban liya apna paigambar, tar liya sat samandar, phir bhi sookha man ke andar, kyun rahega?” indicates the continued hollowness in Bunny’s life, despite having pursued his dreams; of being his own messenger and having travelled the seven seas. This connects back to the idea that our life is hopelessly intertwined with those we love, and regardless of our own personal dreams and ambitions, we need those meaningful connections to fuel ourselves, be it in the form of platonic or romantic relationships.
His reuniting with Naina at Aditi’s wedding reminds him of those blatant differences between their outlooks, their entirely different ways of thinking, and yet he is still drawn to her. The Udaipur scene where they view the sunset and highlight the beauties in their very different lives is my favourite scene in this film, for I think it’s so special how two entirely contrasting personalities ultimately come together and complement each other so well. Even prior to this scene, I think the Manali scenes of Naina being unwilling to attend the party because she doesn’t feel like she belongs, and then Bunny telling her how “dangerous her smile is” was one of the sweetest cinematic moments. His reassurance allows Naina to develop and envision a life that balances her own “duties”, such as being a doctor, whilst also pursuing her intrinsic desires of living a more adventurous life. That is the balance that Bunny brings in Naina, whilst she too, brings out a side of Bunny that hobbles between too extremes. Bunny and Naina’s special dynamic is wholly reminiscent of the yin-yang symbol, being each-other’s natural harmonic equilibrium.
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