Monday, November 12, 2007

Indian Love: A colourful display of romance

Is Indian love any different from the other cultures in the world. Is the question relevant?

The other day, I was watching a movie on HBO, where the man bends forward effortlessly to kiss his ladycharming. The sheer spontaneity and the ease with which it was done made the shot almost a non-event. They say art mirrors life. The western life mirrors it as well as the Indian. What am I getting at? Well really trying to know if this can be a hypothesis. Not doing any great research though. If indeed its true, then a lot of romantic English and Indian movies will serve to be a great deal of worth.

I was travelling to Goa. On the way in my AC car, a Hindi song was being played. It said.."Milan abhi aadha adhura hai..." from the film Vivaha. The setting is of two about-to-be-married couples dancing in the happiness of their marriage. I was just imagining the entire landscape of the marriage and all its pre-marital excitements, apprehensions and romance. The whole song and dance of the marriage crossed my mind like a happy flowing river. The smiles, the dress, the sheer excitement of it, the unwordable adrenalin push of it. The foreplay was very clear. The song further says.."Kuch batein ho chuki hai..kuch batein abhi hai baaki...bauchar ek padi hai...barasaate abhi hai baaki"... meaning that some talks are done but some more are left....that there is just a drizzle...but the rain is awaited".


Then the song says "Hame milane me sabka sahayog pura hai"... the song acknowledges the role of the elders and family members in bringing them together. In some ways its a celebration of an arranged marriage also, as its usually the elders who play a vital role in arranging for the same.

The Indian classical music represents love and erotica through the melodious rendering of ragas. Certain ragas by their very nature express love, romance and erotica. The Ektaal of the exposition is usually a prolonged appreciation of love and romance. As it extends into Teentaal the final pleasure is conveyed.

A thought crossed my mind that this is what the Indian love stood for as a differentiating entity from the rest of the cultures! A portrayal of love and all its subtleties. Contrast this to the western romance, the urgency for the final act, the "take it easy" approach and in some ways the non-eventishness of it!

Which is good? Again not a relevant question. The underlying societal values give a clue of why love is portrayed and practiced so differently in different cultures. And values can be neither bad nor good. They are just there at some point in the history serving a purpose and some desires of individuals and societies. Infact the mixing of cultures throws up a unique area of study of how love is celebrated among communities and societies.

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