Jul 30, 2013 10:53 AM
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I had no idea that a movie with the title "Ship of Theseus" was released on 19th July 2013 until I read my classmate of gradation days post a comment on Facebook that of all the brain-numbing movies he had seen he had missed this one. I had no idea about Theseus's paradox, Plutarch or the movie until yesterday. One of my acquaintances who had come on his vacation from the US suggested me that we had to go for a movie before he returns back and as I had seen BMB, D Day and Auto Raja this month, had no clue which one would I be watching now and remembering my classmates brain-numbing comment on FB I thought I would go for this one.
I don't like to usually say anything on the plot of the movie as its all over on the internet but I am compelled to write on this one. We have three protagonists unraveling the story of their lives. Aaliya is intuitive, instinctive, talented photographer who has a great sense of photography by sound and touch though she is bereft of the most important aspect of a photographers life - Sense of sight. Yes, she is blind and still manages to click the most laudable of snaps. She undergoes a cornea transplant and as her vision is now back we expect her to better herself only to see her lose that magical feel she had for photography.
Maitreya is a monk who believes in the existential rights of all living beings and life in general than just the rights of human beings. He is against ill-treatment and torturing of animals in the name of tests by pharmaceutical companies and so fighting a case against them to stop the same. Life has an unpleasant surprise to him in the form of liver cirrhosis and he is now to choose between his principles of not taking the medicines manufactured by the very same companies or to take them and get himself a normal, healthy life.
Navin is practical, money-oriented, stock broker who believes there is absolutely no need to have any social goals as against the ideologies of his grandmother. He has undergone a kidney transplant and learns about Shankar, whose kidney was stolen when he was operated for appendicitis. Navin for a split-second is guilt-ridden and worried if he is now with Shankar's kidney and is driven crazy to get to know the details of the transplant and to confirm if he is the one who was operated with Shankar's kidney. He doesn't stop at confirming that Shankar's kidney is transplanted to someone else and not him but chases the Swedish man (who is operated with Shankar's kidney) to help Shankar.
What has the above stories got to do with the way we think or feel? Its completely up to you. The movie opens up to debate, discussion, opinions and viewpoints. Aaliya made me feel and think that sometimes our weaknesses are our greatest strengths. The more we work on getting our disability fixed we lose our natural keenness to something special and magical about life. Maitreya proves that it is absolutely fine to sometimes contradict our own principles and values in life for the better. Navin made me feel that the most practical, just money-oriented person on the planet does give away to emotion and can feel for the lives of other people.
Camera placement and the locales shot are absolutely fantastic. Every other 10-15 minutes, I used to gasp a wow and the gal seated just next to the empty seat next to me (God had no plans) used to turn to see me with a what the hell is wrong with this guy look on her face. Conversations between characters are thought-provoking and will let you introspect even hours after you have left the theater. Performances are brilliant and I knew nobody as they are not popular, mainstream actors. I liked the mannerisms of Maitreya played by Neeraj Kabi and Shankar's character played by Yashwant Wasnik (I got to know the names of the actors just now). Ideas expressed in conversations between Charvaka (another supporting character with whom Maitreya shares his ideologies) and Maitreya are philosophical in their meaning and worth ones introspection.
This is not a movie for those who like to grab popcorn and watch their damsel heroine getting seduced by a rich, virtuous, handsome hero. Its not even for those who seek thrill by watching vehicles rammed into one another just before another action sequence awaits. Its for those who have patience to appreciate the art of the very essence of cinema - story, screenplay, dialogues, performances and cinematography. The movie moves at a snails pace but will stay with you forever. I will end this review with a paraphrased dialogue from the flick that made me laugh aloud in the theater (yes, the gal gave me a weird look) - If you are celibate, why this intellectual masturbation?
