Life lessons from a Movie- Aavesham

#Fridays are typically #boxoffice days

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And one such Friday, I watched this #malayalammovie #aavesham.

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Just like books, travel and the company we keep, I believe, what we watch also tends to impact what we absorb. To me, although it’s been a month that I watched this movie, I am not able to shake off certain things that stood out for me both as a person and as a #coach, as reiteration of life lessons and what I have observed in general. This movie is definitely going to make its way as a possible metaphor in a relevant coaching conversation.

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Those of you who have watched the movie, will immediately get what I am talking about in this post. Those of you who haven’t, you could perhaps give it a watch or read on to my summary.

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Aavesham (which means “charged up” in Malayalam), is about a group of college students who become acquainted with a local gangster to help them deal with college ragging/bullying, and have their lives changed forever. What starts of as hero worship for the boys (a bunch of talented budding movie stars) & the allure of the don life, soon turns to the realisation, that there is another side to the coin, when the don starts co-depending on the boys for his own vulnerability fix. This leads to the boys messing up the very purpose for which they had left their home town, to come to a city for academic progress. The fallout being, that they can’t wait to now rid of their once guardian angel. The movie of course ends on a happy note with the boys getting back to concentrating on the studies and the don chasing them benevolently to keep them in check. In the very last scene, the change in the don’s weapons moving from guns and daggers to the famous cane used to discipline errant kids, hopefully is not lost on the viewer.

I cant read the mind of #jithumadhavan, the director on what did he intend for us, ?as audience to carry back, apart, from crazy #paisavasool.

But some lessons, that have stayed with me, post Aavesham-

1)???As human beings, we tend to operate quite selfishly. Because we want certain parts of people ONLY, we want to engage, as long as things serve our interest and yet, we are squeamish about accepting the whole, warts et al and ready to run/discard otherwise. Is that fair?

2)???That for every dark, there is light and vice versa, in each of us- and that we must courageously accept both. In ourselves, and in others. No?

3)???People’s behaviours are hardly indicative of their back stories. After all, somewhere, our environments have made us what we are. Perhaps, a little compassion and understanding is an order. What say?

4)???Allure is distracting. Flashy is distracting. As is perceived strength & power. Yet, the real power, is in leading an authentic existence, unapologetically. The lead character, Ranga will leave you confused(in a good way), because you will remain undecided on what to label him- protagonist/antagonist? In your life story, I invite you to check, what avatar do you carry?

5)???Deep buried in all of us, is a small child, who just wants love. And wanting to belong. I ask myself, how can I provide that space for others in all my interactions?

6)???Last, but not the least, anything goes. But, as long as you are at least able to claim happiness. Very subliminally illustrated by a mother’s recurring, timely/untimely calls to her son, where her opening or closing line is “Mon, happy alle?” (Son, you are happy, right?)

Till next time, #linkedinfam, you have a lovely weekend ahead.

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#fafalover #cinegoer #learningneverstops #shadowwork