REFLECTIONS

Indian Top Blog {2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 & 2015} for the past 5 years and counting; Nominated in
top 5 Political Bloggers by Blogadda in Win-15. I specialise in deep politico-economic analysis; Books
off the beaten track, and a value & fundamentals-based approach towards the Indian Economy,
Corporate India - And Especially Indian Colonial History

SEARCH

Pages

Home About Me Economics Business Books Indian History Vedant

PK, The Movie : One Of The Best...

January 01, 2015

PK : A Movie Ahead Of Its Time;

A Movie That Is A Very Vital And Current Need!

I dont normally review movies; my blog does not lend itself to such an activity, given its positioning
as one that asks some tough questions to Indians. I am making an exception for this movie, not
because it is a landmark movie {which it is}, but because this movie is also one that asks some pretty
blunt, and to some people, offensive questions.

It is rather sad and humbling to see the vigorous protests to this movie, and some cases of active on-
street protests and interference in some places. Sad, because there is almost nothing in the content
that should excite such actions; and humbling because it is a painful reminder that we as a nation
have still a ways to go in our quest for true development!

Before I move onto the movie, I have just one question : did the protesters also protest to Haider? If
no, you did not find the negative portrayal of The Indian Army objectionable? That was great
Cinema? Showing our beloved Armed Forces in a negative light is art, and acceptable? Asking
questions of the Army based on excesses is ok, despite the negativity? And asking anything from our
Religion is NOT ok? So which is more important - Hinduism, or India?
THE MOVIE

The movie is about an Alien who is stranded on this planet; as it happens, his "remote" to contact his
ship to come collect him is stolen on his landing. The rest of the movie is about his hunt for the
remote, and his adventures as he goes about it. It is a hard-hitting expose on human nature and
modern life, or what we call civilization. And, as we shall see, the movie ends with a punch to the
gut, which leaves you almost feeling ashamed of being a human being on Earth. The movie gives you
pride in being a Hindu, or to be accurate, a Sanaatan Dharmi; but it makes you feel ashamed to be a
Human Being living on this planet, all in just one shocking dialogue, that takes your breath away, and
leaves you retching in sheer disgust at humanity.

The Alien, who has been given no name, is from an advanced race that does not speak, but
communicates with telepathy. Thus, they are unable to lie, or practice chicanery in any form. And
this poor fellow is loose in a land full of lies and uncaring people. {Close your eyes, and imagine this
scene for a moment; imagine his desperation!} When people, unable to understand, tell him - ask
God - he begins to question, who is this God? And gets directed to a Temple, as this is the most
populous in India. He asks God to return his Remote to him, and sits in the Temple, waiting for God
to give it back to him - since that is what he sees people do : ask God, do this and do that for me!

He then sees people doing all sorts of penance - Flowers, Milk, Chaader on a Muslim Peer Tomb,
Churches - and he does all of this. He sees people donate money to the Temple, and blindly follows
this. And then, when obviously no result is obtained, doesnt get angry - unlike us. He just assumes
that God is missing from these places of Worship, and distributes placards and posters with images
of all Gods of all Religions, asking "Missing", if anyone finds God, please contact me!

Religion is only one of the two or three themes of the movie; to be sure, it is a predominant theme -
but it is one theme among two or three nonetheless. And the picture is not about Hinduism, it is
about Religion, blind faith, loot, lies and chicanery. It just so happens that first, we Hindus are the
majority in this nation. Other religions have also been covered.

Second, can anyone imagine the reaction if such hard questions were asked of Islam? Or, to an
admittedly much lesser extent, Christianity? Recall the protests to The Da Vinci Code? Or the various
problems in the Islamic world? Is it really feasible to ask such hard questions of Islam? Thus, isnt it a
matter of tremendous pride for us Sanaatan Dharmis that we are followers of an open faith, where
such questions can be asked?

The movie then acquires a compelling and rapid narrative, as PK gets mixed up in politicised religion,
and gets pitted against a powerful so-called Godman. Also mixed in is a lovely India-Pakistan love
story that will tug the strings of your heart. And the best part of this is that all these 3 narratives
combine into one story effortlessly and naturally.
The movie does not question the need for Religion; neither does it question the existence of God. It
does not mock any Religion; rather it mocks the practices and blind faith that goes into the same. It
does not question the core tenets of any faith, let alone Sanaatan Dharm. It actually preaches that
Man does need to pray to God, and that God does help.

The movie is not an attack on any Religion; it is an attack on Mankind as it exists today. It is teaches
us to believe, to have faith in God, and that God helps those who helps themselves. Isnt that what
Sanaatan Dharm says precisely? It teaches us the value of true love, of self-confidence, and of true
faith; it teaches us to have faith in God, and focus on our Karm. Again, precisely Sanaatan Dharm.
After all, the movie has been written and directed by a Hindu. {By the way, that reminds me - if this
has been written and directed by a Hindu or Sanaatan Dharmi, pray tell how is Aamir Khan the only
one being questioned?}

Hats off to you, Team PK! Sad that so many people have not understood its core message... there are
some movies with a message. And then there are some messages with a movie woven into them,
like PK. A landmark movie... stupendous. Stupendous! We need more such movies, and more such
courageous actors and directors and artists... take a bow, Team PK! Stunning! Superlative! One of
the best motion picture features to come out of Mumbai!

I say it again : Strange that Haidar does cause even a ripple, with its negative portrayal of our
beloved Armed Forces, and PK with its questions on so many vital aspects of life can cause an
uproar! Is the nation more important or the religion? I am an INDIAN first. Did not watch Haidar, do
not intend to. No one insults my Army. Sorry. And PK is much, much deeper...

"jhoothh bolnaa seekh kar gayaa, pyaar karnaa sikhaa gayaa" the last dialogue of the movie...

An Alien comes to this planet, and the only thing he learns from this planet and from us Humans...
how to lie; while teaching us the true meaning of love... A matter of some pride, isnt it, that the only
thing we can teach an Alien is the art of lying???? Thus, after thousands of years of development, of
civilization, that is all we can teach someone? Shame on us...

SHARE

Labels

Aamir Khan

Culture

Hinduism
India

Movies

Politics

LABELS: AAMIR KHAN CULTURE HINDUISM INDIA MOVIES POLITICS

SHARE

Comments

Rajeev Moothedath5 January 2015 at 21:27

Agree with you on PK.infact I had also done a poetic review of the movie that entertains while
getting us to think...

Rate this

101

REPLY

Reflections Of Vishal V Kale23 November 2018 at 09:49

Thanks

Rate this

00

Unknown10 May 2017 at 23:04

Enjoy your review. And I love PK as much as you do!

Rate this

00

REPLY

Reflections Of Vishal V Kale13 October 2017 at 15:14

Thanks a lot!
Rate this

00

Unknown24 July 2018 at 00:27

It helped me alot thanks

Rate this

00

Post a comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review : India 2020 - A Vision For The New Millennium

March 27, 2016

INDIA 2020 – A VISION FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM BY DR. A P J ABDUL KALAM & DR Y S RAJAN This
is perhaps one of the best known books penned on India’s Growth Imperatives in its search for
developed country status, penned by one of India’s favourite sons- our beloved Late Dr APJ Abdul
Kalam, Former President, Nuclear Scientist – and, as it turns out, thinker extraordinaire with a
tremendous passion for India and all things Indian. It has been co-authored with Dr Y S Rajan, who
used to be the Scientific Secretary to the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government
of India. He was also associated with ISRO and the Department of Space This book, as it turns out, is
far more than a mere problems/challenges-and-solutions stuff... it is the dream of a great Indian, a
man who had given his entire life in the service of the nation. It is in every way a vision, a passionate
dream; but one that is well presented, sorted out, supported with extensive res

Rate this (3 Votes)

SHARE

8 COMMENTS

READ MORE

Karmyog - A Simplified Explanation Basis Scriptures

January 04, 2020

A FEW THOUGHTS ON KARMYOG The KarmYog, or, as it is called at its culmination point – Nishkaam
Karmyog, is a path towards God wherein a person acts as per the situation, without any self-interest,
dedicated towards God, and without any expectation of return. As per the Krushnaarjun Samvaad
{also known as the Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta}, it is a state where one is purely content in the self and
at total peace. At its highest point, Nishkaam Karmyog, there is no need for a person to act THE
VARIOUS PATHS TOWARDS MOKSH The KarmYog path is one that can take you to liberation despite
being in Gruhasthaashram, or in other words, while being in society, marriage and friends; another
path for the Gruhasth is SanyasYog, wherein one practices detachment while remaining in the
sansaar - different from Sanyaas Aashram when one renounces the world. A third path is BhaktiYog
– wherein one is so devoted to God, that one literally forgets oneself. PRARABDH A full unders

Rate this (1 Vote)

SHARE

POST A COMMENT

READ MORE

About Me

My photo

Reflections Of Vishal V Kale

Pune, Maharashtra, India

Indian, Maharashtrian, Follower of Vedant, MBA with 19 Years workex in Telecom, Startups and
Consumer Goods Industries. Apolitical, Centrist. Thats me.

VISIT PROFILE

Archive

Labels

Report abuse

Food

International

Auto News

Powered by Blogger