No doubt V. V. Chopra took 5 years writing Eklavya. A movie that can be called good not because of its ear-friendly songs or beautiful locations, but because of a very key point being made. With various kinds of emotions like anger, jealousy, fear, loyalty and love being displayed, the story revolves around some eight characters.
The story starts with the guard of the Devigarh Palace, Eklavya, narrating to the prince of the kingdom, Eklavya, the story of Eklavya, the obedient student who at the order of his so-called considered guru, Dronacharya, didn’t even think once to cut his thumb. On hearing this story, the prince immediately responded that what the student Eklavya did was wrong. Whereas the guard believed that what he did was right as it was his duty as a student.
The movie tries to display two sets of people. One who firmly believes that their duty, which they have been assigned and which has been done and passed on from generations is their religion, their Dharma. Whereas the second set believes that Dharma Matibhya Udgritaha. Dharma is what appears correct to one’s conscience.
The first set is represented by the royal guard of the palace, Eklavya. His father had drowned saving life of his king. His previous nine generations had been doing the duty of protecting the palace and the king and hence he was assigned the same when his father died. At the orders of the former queen, he had to help the then queen Rani Suhasinidevi conceive a child, as the king was impotent. But he and the queen promised each other that it would remain a secret. They didn’t even want their children (the queen delivered twins – a boy and a girl) to come to know about it. This promise was taken as his Dharma and he followed it irrespective of his feeling for his children.
The second set was represented by the queen, Rani Suhasinidevi. She had promised the guard that the children would never come to know that the king was not their real father. However, when she became old and was about to die, she disclosed the secret not only to the king but also to her son. She also gave explanation to her son why she did that. She told him that Dharma according to her was that which is born out of one’s intelligence and what one’s self feels correct. She felt that his son should be aware who his real father was. And since his real father was getting old, he should even take care of him and be his support. However, she left the decision to his son, asking him to decide his own Dharma.
Both the sets of people pursue their emotions in a different way based on their stand about Dharma. The queen who is about to die, instead of covering her emotions for the father of her children, calls his name again and again in front of the king. This even turned out to be the reason for her death. On the other hand, the guard always tries to kill his feeling for his children. Even he feels happy when his daughter smiles and even he wants to hug his young son. This is clearly demonstrated in a beautiful dialogue – "Mann to mera bhi bahut karta hai unko gale lagaane ko. Par humein woh adhikaar kahan; sewak jo thehre."
However, when it comes to the prince to decide his Dharma, he decides to go as per his mother’s definition of Dharma. He promises that he will take care of his father, the guard. He does not even hesitate to kill his so-called father, the king, in order to perform his Dharma.
Finally when the guard comes to know about it, he, who strongly felt that his Dharma was to protect the king, decides to kill his own son. He tells him that what he did was wrong. But the prince explains him why he did that. He even tells him what his mother had told him about Dharma. But the prince, feeling guilty for having been the reason of an innocent man’s death, decides to shoot himself. It was at this point that a transition takes place in the guard’s self. He protects him and accepts that the queen was right.
A very deep and an important point have been put across by the means of this movie. Though it has tried to make it as clear as possible, it might not get conveyed to the mass who might have expected a longer, interesting story from the film.
The story starts with the guard of the Devigarh Palace, Eklavya, narrating to the prince of the kingdom, Eklavya, the story of Eklavya, the obedient student who at the order of his so-called considered guru, Dronacharya, didn’t even think once to cut his thumb. On hearing this story, the prince immediately responded that what the student Eklavya did was wrong. Whereas the guard believed that what he did was right as it was his duty as a student.
The movie tries to display two sets of people. One who firmly believes that their duty, which they have been assigned and which has been done and passed on from generations is their religion, their Dharma. Whereas the second set believes that Dharma Matibhya Udgritaha. Dharma is what appears correct to one’s conscience.
The first set is represented by the royal guard of the palace, Eklavya. His father had drowned saving life of his king. His previous nine generations had been doing the duty of protecting the palace and the king and hence he was assigned the same when his father died. At the orders of the former queen, he had to help the then queen Rani Suhasinidevi conceive a child, as the king was impotent. But he and the queen promised each other that it would remain a secret. They didn’t even want their children (the queen delivered twins – a boy and a girl) to come to know about it. This promise was taken as his Dharma and he followed it irrespective of his feeling for his children.
The second set was represented by the queen, Rani Suhasinidevi. She had promised the guard that the children would never come to know that the king was not their real father. However, when she became old and was about to die, she disclosed the secret not only to the king but also to her son. She also gave explanation to her son why she did that. She told him that Dharma according to her was that which is born out of one’s intelligence and what one’s self feels correct. She felt that his son should be aware who his real father was. And since his real father was getting old, he should even take care of him and be his support. However, she left the decision to his son, asking him to decide his own Dharma.
Both the sets of people pursue their emotions in a different way based on their stand about Dharma. The queen who is about to die, instead of covering her emotions for the father of her children, calls his name again and again in front of the king. This even turned out to be the reason for her death. On the other hand, the guard always tries to kill his feeling for his children. Even he feels happy when his daughter smiles and even he wants to hug his young son. This is clearly demonstrated in a beautiful dialogue – "Mann to mera bhi bahut karta hai unko gale lagaane ko. Par humein woh adhikaar kahan; sewak jo thehre."
However, when it comes to the prince to decide his Dharma, he decides to go as per his mother’s definition of Dharma. He promises that he will take care of his father, the guard. He does not even hesitate to kill his so-called father, the king, in order to perform his Dharma.
Finally when the guard comes to know about it, he, who strongly felt that his Dharma was to protect the king, decides to kill his own son. He tells him that what he did was wrong. But the prince explains him why he did that. He even tells him what his mother had told him about Dharma. But the prince, feeling guilty for having been the reason of an innocent man’s death, decides to shoot himself. It was at this point that a transition takes place in the guard’s self. He protects him and accepts that the queen was right.
A very deep and an important point have been put across by the means of this movie. Though it has tried to make it as clear as possible, it might not get conveyed to the mass who might have expected a longer, interesting story from the film.
5 comments:
Nice Review, which matches my own feelings about this movie. I wonder if you can help me. I am seeking the origin of this phrase. The movie says it is in the Mahabharata, and if I heard correctly (I have almost no Hindi) it attributed it to Bhishma. But do you know where in the Mahabharata this phrase is located? Thanks.
I didn't know who said it in Mahabharata. I googled it :) Here is a link that says that it was said by Bhishma. It's translation is 'True Dharma, religion or consciousness of duty, is one that is dictated by intelligence' which I think makes a lot of sense. What are your views about religion/dharma?
I didn't know who said it in Mahabharata. I googled it :) Here is a link that says that it was said by Bhishma. It's translation is 'True Dharma, religion or consciousness of duty, is one that is dictated by intelligence' which I think makes a lot of sense. What are your views about religion/dharma?
Hi, Thank you for post,
Could you please tell me what is the meaning of this phrase?
my email is: interlud63@yahoo.de
Regards
Great review bhai. We often get confused when it comes to choosing our DHARMA. But true Dharma is to do deeds that what one’s self feels correct. Simply Great Yaar!!!
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