Ever had a life defining moment? A moment which can divide your life into a before and after? A moment so powerful, pure you start seeing the world in colour again?
This feeling is best captured in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara after Arjun (Hritik) goes for scuba diving. While watching this film initially everyone wants to be Arjun, he had the most perfect life out of the three! He had the money, the job, the looks. Superficially he was the most settled guy, but once we move past that we fail to consider he was the most broken of the three. After going through so much he had the most shivered soul. It made him a robot.
He lived like a robot. He had one instruction, to print money. That’s what his life was. A person so hardened by his circumstances he lived in a shell.
Teased into going Scuba by his friends he faced his fears and lunged into the sea. The person who came out was someone different. Scuba was the moment for him, he became a human again. He regained his thoughts, dreams, emotions, he found himself again. This moment was so powerful for him, he could no longer see the world the same way again. He wanted to live again. You can hear his deep gasps once he is out, it is as if he started breathing again after a long long time.
Before his Scuba, he was tied to his work, could not even go a day without taking work calls. Losing his phone made him so mad, his work was his life and being. It was one of the reasons he had a failed relationship. But after his moment, his work became a part of his life, it no longer entirely consumed him. He willingly switched off his phone to enjoy a starry night on a beach. He started enjoying solitude. He started living.
“Dilon mein tum apni betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho,
toh zinda ho tum
Nazar mein khwaabon ki bijliyan leke chal rahe ho,
toh zinda ho tum
Hawa ke jhokon ke jaise aazad rehna seekho
Tum ek dariya ke jaise lehron mein behna seekho
Har ek lamhe se tum milo khole apni baahein
Har ek pal ek naya samaa dekhiye
Jo apni aankhon mein hayraniyan leke chal rahe ho,
toh zinda ho tum
Dilon mein tum apni betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho,
toh zinda ho tum”
This poem is a masterpiece. The musical score played with the scene is so beautifully heart wrenching. Everyone can relate to these words. Vocalized by Farhan, it went straight to our hearts.
This scene is so powerful because when we see Arjun’s life being changed we recollect how once we were at this same stage in life. We can empathize with him. We understand him. If you feel, you are alive.
What was your moment?
My dreams are big. My mistakes? Bigger.
