Refreshing selflessness!

I watched 'Lage raho Munnabhai' this weekend.. (don't worry, this isn't another review!).. after the innumerable posts and newspaper reviews on the movie, the storyline or even the jokes were no surprise to me.. but of course the movie was as good as people said it would be, and in some scenes I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes! So it was all it was touted to be... and the Gandhian principles that were the theme of the movie also hit home...

But all that has been much discussed, and the newspapers, news channels, net, mags have this sudden new-found interest in Gandhian principles and politics... and if a movie is what it takes for the new (our) generation to remember Gandhi and his teachings, so be it..

But what struck me most during the movie (and I am not undermining the other good things in it, just that those have already been talked about a trifle too much!) was the depth of friendship between Circuit and Munna, especially the loyalty that Curcuit has towards Munnabhai! I mean, where do you see such selfless love these days, where do you see people giving up their own identity for the sake of their friend's? Where do you find people putting their friend's (or even family's) happiness above their own anymore? The dedication towards Munnabhai that Arshad Warsi's character shows is indeed exemplary in these times.. and he does so without looking like a chamcha! It's refreshing to see that certain values have been revived in this movie, like the way that Circuit pretends he can see Bapu too is not only funny but also portrays a deep sense of affection for his friend.. its only a friend who can let you believe the impossible! Ofcourse this has its disadvantages too (also brought out in the film) but I was really touched at the affection shown between them..

In this world of rat-races, competition, comparison etc.. one is lucky if they find a friend who is always there for them, putting everything aside for their benefit.. its not even expected these days!! I am sure in my life there are not more than cpl of people whom I can count on really... not that the rest of the people do not care or are not good.. everyone does what they can within their comfort zone.... going out of their way - now thats something that's beginning to get rare these days..

I've been blessed with really caring friends - those who genuinely wish the best for me, would like to see me do well, would help me 'get there' and would be willing to point out what's wrong and nag and nag and nag till I do what's right! (Very few people in this world actually bother you know!) I'm very choosy about who I "make friendship" (!!) with.. I tend to make friends slowly, but surely.. so I end up making few friends, but they are (or what I hope to believe!) for life... its not that the person has to be there with you 24 hrs, but just the feeling that they will be willing to fight for you, they'll be willing to put some sense into your head (if not put then definitely hammer it in!)...they'd be willing to wake up in the middle of the night to hear your good or bad news.. they'd be considerate enough to let you alone when you need to be and not make it a life and death situation! They'd let you make your own mistakes (much like Circuit did!) but will be there for you when you come home beaten and hurt! They'd have a way of making the worst moments seem better, would be more than willing to poke fun at you when you feel your egoistic best, and of course, would be an angel in the eyes of your parents ("That girl is really nice and sensible") when you know better!! And the best part is that you would be willing to be all these things and more to them as well... friendship can never be a one way street.. else the other person either feels stifled or unhappy - depending on how much information you do or do not share with them! Hehehe...

But anwyays, net take-away is that friends like Circuit, with his level of dedication and ability to take shit on behalf of his friend, are amazing to have and should be treasured and kept locked away! If one finds just one or two such people in this world, one would be much happier in just that knowledge!

Like I am! :-))