When I had her captive for so long, she fought me with all her might ...
When I told her what he had done, she didn't flinch in her loyalty ...
When I spared his life and freed her, she didn't look back even once ...
Why then did she return ...
Now that she has unequivocally responded to my feelings ...
Now that I have finally realized the meaning of my life ...
Why then is the ground slipping below my feet ...
Why then do I feel the unshakable tug of Fate ...
All I wanted was a fair chance ...
All I wanted was to know that she liked me ...
All I wanted was to live my dream ...
I shall return ...
Mani Ratnam's Raavan had it's share of controversies with several 'devout' Hindu groups claiming that it cast serious aspersions on the character of Lord Ram, who embodies the quintessential man, a role model for all mankind as depicted in the epic Ramayana. It didn't do great business at the box office and lesser critics threw their hollow punches at the movie. Subjectively though, this movie reached out to me at several levels.
Like most people I prefer the Tamil version of the movie to the Hindi one. The Hindi version isn't an exact translation of the Tamil movie. There are several key dialogues and lines that have either been edited out or simply not been translated right, giving an incomplete picture of what the director wanted to convey through his characters.
In the climax of the movie when Ragini (Seeta) returns to Veera (Raavan) to ask him what exactly he told her husband Dev (Ram) about her that caused Dev to suspect her. Veera is at once surprised, ecstatic, confused and angry.
When I told her what he had done, she didn't flinch in her loyalty ...
When I spared his life and freed her, she didn't look back even once ...
Why then did she return ...
Now that she has unequivocally responded to my feelings ...
Now that I have finally realized the meaning of my life ...
Why then is the ground slipping below my feet ...
Why then do I feel the unshakable tug of Fate ...
All I wanted was a fair chance ...
All I wanted was to know that she liked me ...
All I wanted was to live my dream ...
I shall return ...
Mani Ratnam's Raavan had it's share of controversies with several 'devout' Hindu groups claiming that it cast serious aspersions on the character of Lord Ram, who embodies the quintessential man, a role model for all mankind as depicted in the epic Ramayana. It didn't do great business at the box office and lesser critics threw their hollow punches at the movie. Subjectively though, this movie reached out to me at several levels.
Like most people I prefer the Tamil version of the movie to the Hindi one. The Hindi version isn't an exact translation of the Tamil movie. There are several key dialogues and lines that have either been edited out or simply not been translated right, giving an incomplete picture of what the director wanted to convey through his characters.
In the climax of the movie when Ragini (Seeta) returns to Veera (Raavan) to ask him what exactly he told her husband Dev (Ram) about her that caused Dev to suspect her. Veera is at once surprised, ecstatic, confused and angry.
- Surprised because he didn't expect Ragini to come back after he had reluctantly freed her
- Ecstatic because he realizes Ragini too has developed feelings for him
- Confused because he doesn't understand why Dev suspected her character
- Angry because he figures out that Dev has tricked her into locating him
When Dev arrives and raises his gun, Ragini tries to defend Veera, but Veera pushes her out of the way and is shot fatally. Ragini desperately tries to grab his hand as Veera falls off the cliff, not managing to touch her even once in his lifetime vowing to return, in spirit.
There is an absolute gem of a song "Naan Varuven" which is played at this juncture in the movie. Here's a blog which discusses the Tamil lyrics and the technique A. R. Rahman has used in his music.(http://arrahmaniac.blogspot.com/2011/01/naan-varuven.html)
But for me, I looped the DVD again and again over this song almost unable to shake off the haunting melody and words (ask my wife, she'll tell you).
I've tried to pen down what Veera would have felt as he falls off the cliff in my own words. For some reason this song gives me goose bumps!
What happens when Fate pulls away the only thing you desire after throwing it in your arms ...
What happens when you realize that you can't fight back ...
What do you do as you fall off that cliff ...
Loved your take on his thoughts! And thank you for introducing me to this song! It is haunting!
ReplyDeleteHaven't watched this one. Watched the parody with you that day i.e Ra One.
ReplyDelete"What happens when Fate pulls away the only thing you desire after throwing it in your arms ...
ReplyDeleteWhat happens when you realize that you can't fight back ...
What do you do as you fall off that cliff ... "
These lines gave me goosebumps... Good one Amit..