“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall
return” (Job 1:21). This was the experience of the Prophet Job, known to
Muslims as Ayub. These words are apt for Aamir Khan’s latest blockbuster –
“PK”. My wife and I watched the movie on New Year’s Day, the first day that it
had been declared tax-free in U.P.; because Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav
believed that it contained a strong social message, and hence needed a wider
audience.
Having
just seen the movie I couldn’t agree more. The theatre was houseful. More than
the movie’s message was the audience’s response, which was the real proof of
the pudding. There were moments of comparative quiet in the fire-bucket seats
below, where the “lumpen elements” usually sit. Otherwise they were with PK all
the way, whistling and thundering their approval. Such an audience connect was
the best retort to those right wing Hindutva elements that were crying foul and
opposing the movie. If vox populi is indeed vox dei, then the
people have expressed their collective social conscience.
For
those lesser mortals that have not yet seen PK, it is about Aamir Khan, an
alien from another planet, who gets a rude awakening when he lands nude on
planet Earth. Apparently, on his native planet there was no need of apparel,
social mores or putting on pretence. You were what you were, hence did not need
to wear anything, let alone a plastic smile! Period.
Not
so on Planet Earth. Clothing is its first cover up operation (pun intended).
Then comes language; words and colours that mean different things to diverse
peoples, religions and cultures. So we have Hindu widows and Christian brides
wearing white, while Christian widows and Muslim women wore black. We may take
such things for granted, but for an alien like PK it is an eye-opener. And
Aamir does manage to keep his eyes wide open, his big ears flapping, his
Charlie Chaplain gait amusing, and his abundant flow of seemingly innocuous
questions quite flabbergasting.
It
is his constant questioning of human behaviour, that we “normal” humans take
for granted, that he finds so abnormal; earning him the sobriquet “PK”, Hindi
for somebody who is inebriated. He is indeed inebriated, with another spirit –
that of seeking rational or plausible answers.
PK’s
search is most exasperating when he is confronted with organized religion,
which seems replete with double standards and intolerance of the “other”. This
is especially marked in the Hindu-Muslim divide. There are some minor takes on
a terribly Bambaiya style of Christianity, and Sikhs (minus stupid sardarji
jokes). But the undercurrent is on the Hindu-Muslim divide and the sheer
hypocrisy of sham babas. With the likes of Asaram Bapu in the clink, for
alleged rape and murder, this is not surreal.
There
is a hilarious take on an actor bedecked as Lord Shiva coming on stage for a
drama; which some could find offensive. But I recall several such gags in a
French-Canadian comedy show called “Just for Laughs – Gags”. They have several
spoofs on priests, nuns and even the Lord Jesus. I have also seen some shows on
Comedy Central where they go to town with their light-hearted banter about
various ethnic groups, and definitely not politically correct. Has anybody seen
“Citizen Khan” a British spoof on a Pakistani Muslim family? No offence meant
anywhere. We Indians have lost our sense of humour (if indeed we had one) and
are more prone to rumour. We lack the ability and humility to laugh at
ourselves.
But
PK is no laughing matter. In a light-hearted manner it addresses some really
heavy stuff. Devoid of the Bollywood hype, PK is definitely paisa vasool.
Both Aamir and co-star Anoushka Sharma acquit themselves well, while holding
the rest of us guilty! I would agree with Akhilesh Yadav that PK has a strong
social message. To find out more, go see the movie. It is better to bare one’s
soul than to walk around naked like the Emperor who had no clothes; but nobody
had the guts to say so. PK does. It should make the new year happier for you
and yours.
JANUARY 2015
