both love and fear is full of contradictions. This film takes
you away from religion and God. But had the director been a
more imaginative person, he would have invoked the great
lines uttered by Krishna in the Bhagwad Gita:
paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
Translated, this means, In order to deliver the pious and to
annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the
principles of religion, I manifest Myself millennium after
millennium. But this is really not shown in the film and
neither does it bring about any lasting change in the
custodians of religion in society.
At the most, such films can stir up a religious debate among
people and show the audience some aspect of God that they can
dwell upon.
Unfortunately, the director misses this point.Daily I open
the newspapers and what do I get to read? Of bridges
collapsing, buses falling into deep gorges, travelers being
charred in trains, short circuits and fires, suicides,
murders, and molestation of women. I feel overwhelmed just
looking at the headlines. And oh yes, I forgot: Now attempts
by the Taliban to access nuclear warheads add to the doomsday
scenario. Are we powerless? Is it true that we have little
control over what is happening to us or what might happen to
us by force of dire circumstances?
Let’s look at it this way: We do have power – not just to
Let’s look at it this way: We do have power – not just to
cause harm and create terror but to help ourselves out of
this seemingly hopeless scenario of doom and gloom. It might
seem contradictory that people are empowered and empower
others, merely by being kind and compassionate and not
because they are overbearing, manipulative and unkind and
force their view on others. A kind word, a good deed, a
caring gesture, a warm smile, all these are like power kegs.
Kindness and compassion spring from inner security whereas
aggression and hatred come from inner insecurity. When our
backs are up against the wall, positive inner resources come
to the rescue. Sometimes they are invisible but in times of
distress, they give us strength and help us emerge as
powerful gamechangers.
