This thursday evening, I saw a wonderful hindi movie - “Lage Raho, Munnabhai”. For the first time (in a long time), I see an Indian movie worth recommending to all my friends!

The movie is about a lovable goon, who instead of beating people up … spends time playing Robin Hood and falling in love with a Radio Jockey. He actually even gets to meet her … but she ends up thinking she’s meeting a history lecturer, not a mobster.

It’s a very cute plot … but what’s interesting are the real lessons that lie in there. Through a funny turn of events, Munnabhai starts seeing Gandhi beside him. Only, noone else can see the Gandhi who died 60 years ago. The whole story is about a lot of interesting lessons of non-violence, truth and the good principles Gandhi stood for … and how even a big, sweet mobster could change the world with those principles.

For those interested in spending 3 hours laughing their guts out … and coming out really really happy … the movie “Lage Raho Munnabhai” is playing in the Jade Theatre (Shaw Towers on Beach Road … near Bugis).

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On our way back from the movie, my lovely escort started to talk about some deeper stuff …

She: I really liked the movie. I mean it was hilarious of course … but I liked the preachy stuff too. It was really refreshing to hear.

Me: Cool …

She: But as soon as I walked out, I felt so wierd for feeling good! I’m so damn cynical.

Me: Whatever makes you happy babe …

She: I mean I know it’s kinda wrong. And eventually we’ll all figure out how to be happy. But it just feels so normal to be cynical … I wasn’t always like this, but 4 years in college did it to me.

Me: Yeah, I know how you feel.

She: But I do want to change … I know it’ll be for the better. Rach, how do you not be cynical? How do you keep your cool and look so yoda-like? (BTW, at that moment I felt giddy inside for the yoda comparison )

Me: You really wanna know? Or just want to vent it out?

She: Seriously. Let’s talk about this.

Me: Ok … for me, it’s been a very simple concept. One word actually. “Judgement”. All I try to do every day, is suspend judgement … judgement of people around me & their actions … and judgement of my own thoughts & progress.

She: Sounds real easy. How do you actually implement it?

Me: Obviously, it’s not easy. For me the process took almost a year (starting my PoE program). But as I kept practicing this mantra more & more … it just kinda became a part of me.

She: Yeah right, sounds too good to be true. (Pauses for a moment) Damn! I’m being cynical right now … I feel so guilty for being cynical.

Me: Mmmmmmmm … so, what exactly are you doing to yourself right now?

She: (slowly smiling at her realization) … Yeah … I get it …

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This evening, I was discussing this topic with one of my best friends. She is probably the most cynical person I’ve ever met … and we always clash on this topic.

I say she’s hating the world for no reason, and spreading all the bad energy to me.

She says my behaviour is too good to be true. I should stop trying to be someone I’m not (translation, I’m a bastard and should start acting the part).

Anyway, to cut the long discussion short … we ended up … agreeing to disagree yet again.

Me: I wish you could all experience it. It feels nice to come a full circle. From our niceness in our youth, to our new “attitudes” when we moved to the real world, and back to blissful niceness … in a calm yoda-buddha-like fashion. It’s really something, makes me feel like a real enlightened adult.

She: Am trying …. will get there soon

Well put love, I guess I’ll leave it to time. Over & out.