Kai Po Che

“Kai Po Che” -  A Gujarati phrase which means, “I have cut the kite.” It’s significance cuts in much deeper. It transcends into a jubilant and triumphant yell, celebrating life in small things.

I just caught the last show of the film, an adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s popular novel – ‘Three Mistakes of My Life.’ Getting mixed reviews, I didn’t have high expectations from the movie; lest it turns out to be another one of those, “Copy plot, kill the story” kind of movies. I was surprisingly and pleasantly proven wrong. The film has much to offer and the director, Abhishek Kapoor (of Rock On! fame) and the new actors have done a fabulous job. Apart from spotless direction and acting, the film actually manages to keep the audience engaged all along.

This got me thinking. The movie was good and full marks to everyone involved. Still, what was so special about this movie ? Similar stories and projects on them have come and gone. What makes this one stand out?

I kept pondering over this all the way back home and the scene of the three protagonists, cutting loose and showering in the bitter sweetness of their friendship on top of a fort, kept flashing across my mind. I thought to myself, “This has to be it. Friendship. Friendship is what makes it different.” I replayed the scenes of the movie inside my head.  The scene with them starting out on a sea of uncertainty to the scene where differences creep into their friendship and threatens to part these inseparable souls, each scene relates perfectly to the phases of a  friendship in reality.  The closeness of thoughts, the intimacy of dreams, the shared happiness, the bitter parting, the egoistical separation and the traumatic unrest  leading to a reunion only to strengthen the bonds further, is more or less a friendship’s life.

The movie highlights many other themes along with it but it is up to each individual to select his pick and relate to it. Friendship is something that I have learnt to value over the years. I have moved around a lot and met a good number of people. I loved some of them and despised others. I am not sure whether to call them friends or not. I shared my fun with some and agony with other. Some brought out the devil inside me and others, saint. Some even betrayed me.  The term ‘friend’ is very vaguely used nowadays. Instead, I would say ‘acquaintance’ is a more appropriate word. But all this, makes you realize and believe in the strength of an actual friendship.

Friendship is the best gift life can give anyone and it is a gift we all need. As shown in the movie, friendship is holding hands and jumping in the vast sea together, having faith in each other irrespective of the hopelessness of everything else. We have friends for putting smiles on their faces and lending shoulders for their tears. 

So guys, make sure that you have some mindless, stupid, annoying, irritating idiots whom you call friends. I (coincidentally, also Ishan  ) am certainly lucky to have  some Omis and Govinds  in my life.

The saying – “You don’t make friends, they make you.” is certainly a very true one. 

Kai Po Che !

The oak and the bird

Far over a forest distant,covered with trees thick

Was home to an oak plant;life to it was mystique

Lying in the shadow of tall and gracious pine

the world seemed all good and assumably fine

One fine day, sun shining bright and plenty of light

Filled the forest with a sound; it was music alright

Hovering over the trees was a beautiful bird

singing and chirping with all its might

The oak was struck with wonder and delight

Started a conversation that was harmless in plain sight

Oak asked the bird to be its friend and sing for it

and the bird gently obliged.

The friendship grew stronger over passing time

it was as that the two of them had a common rhyme

The bird wanted to be closer to the oak

but had to contend with branches of other tall folk

The distance was there but it didn’t matter

Oak had a belief ;tied were they by a bond greater

Motivated the oak, grew with all its strength

Tallest and largest it became until he was spent

The oak and the bird were finally together

They wouldn’t be anywhere but here rather

Time stopped and waves were musical

Little did the oak know that he was being whimsical

The happiness was short-lived for the oak

As the bird decided that it was time to go

There were oceans to cross and forests to sing to

Being at one place was now against the freedom !

She bid farewell and was on her way

The oak tried to convince her but she didn’t sway

The happiness that was once there left only pain

The world didn’t make sense anymore,everything was insane

The oak wanted to make everything right

He wanted to hear the sound; that was music alright

Sadness was in the heart, staying happy became a fight

Tallest it was , but was still looking for some light.

Far over a forest distant,covered with trees thick

Was home to an oak plant;life to it was mystique !