Lage Raho...a bit disappointing

Recently, I saw Lage Raho Munnabhai after my friends, relatives, colleagues and even acquaitences, raved about it. Well, it’s had tremendous impact on people of Mumbai; in fact, there has been a sudden spurt of Gandhigiri.

I am not against Gandhian principle but frankly, I didn’t like it all that much. I was disappointed because I expected it to be light and if not supercede atleast be at par with the first one. The first movie better as it was on a much more lighter note and kept the emotional scenes to the minimal. It was indeed hilarious!

Though Lage Raho…was not bad, it failed to be a light, entertaining movie. The concept was good but I wonder, whether in today’s time, people are so tolerant as to listen to others problems; if they are generous and unselfish. In Mumbai, where builder are know to be cut-throat sharks, I wonder, whether any one of them would be so generous to give up a prime property because his conscience pricks. A highly improbable scenario.

I found the film hypothetical (of course it is!) and highly aspring for a utopian world. I mean, newspapers and tv channels flooding us with news about people taking a cue from the film and observing Gandhigiri, I don’t it will last. People will get emotional after seeing the film, maybe think about it for a day or two, and then its life back to the normal world surrounded by lies.

However, the film definitely did help youngsters brush up their history listens and made Gandhian principles less boring. I am sure, those who struggled to clear history in their school days, must have thought post Lage Raho, “Damn! If only this movie had been made when I was in Class 6”.

The bottomline is that a film can only revive a certain principle or hype it but the film cannot force it on its audience. If some basic principles are inculcated in kids and adults – offer your seat in a bus or train when you see an old man or a woman; don’t spit; don’t use gutters and road sides as your private toilet; don’t think the world is a big garbage bin; and have a little compassion for people who are not as fortunate as you – then I don’t think anyone will need a dose or rather an overdose of Gandhigiri.