The Art of Orchestrating Accidents

In an interview, Academy award winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro said that everyone thinks directing a movie is an exercise of control. That’s a myth; it, in fact, is the art of orchestrating accidents, he remarked.

Although I have nothing to do with filmmaking, his point of view connected with me.

Well, so is life, I thought to myself.

We think we are in control of our lives. In fact, most of the time, we are making do with what we have.

We can prepare all we want, but eventually, the adage that is commonly known as Murphy’s law is often applicable – "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

On further introspection, I see 2 perspectives. My interest in Urdu poetry comes in handy to explain these thoughts, with a sher (couplet) for each.

1) Sometimes one is brimming with confidence and thinks one has complete control over one’s life.

Hum bhi dariya hain, humein apna hunar maaloom hai

Jis taraf bhi chal padenge, raasta ho jayega

By Bashir Badr

Loosely translates to

I am a river, and I am aware of the skills I possess,

I create my own path, whichever way I progress.?

2) At other times, life is just passing by, as one watches helplessly.

Apni marzi se kahan apne safar ke hum hain

Rukh hawaon ka jidhar ka hai, udhar ke hum hain

By Nida Fazli

Loosely translates to

I was never on the voyage that I chose,

I am destined to go wherever the wind goes.

Life, in reality, is led somewhere in between.?