What is it with Biopics….

What on the face of it may seem to be a simple task, took each one of us through an emotional roller coaster through all the years of our life, its ups and downs, its key events and turning points. We had to draw on what we liked and disliked about our journey, what was pleasant and not so in all these years, what we did or didn’t want to do, what we had the courage to accept or didn’t have the courage to reject.

Biopics always make an interesting story!

It is no coincidence that biopics as a genre, grab attention. Human beings are always quite interested in lives that can inspire and provide learnings to others.

Most of the biographies or autobiographies, unlike fiction, capture struggles and vulnerabilities that are real, establishing connect easily with others at large.

One of my all-time favourites has been the autobiography of Shri. Harivansh Rai Bachchan – all four parts of it – Kya Bhulu Kya Yaad Karu / Neerh Ka Nirman Phir / Basere Se Door / Dashdwaar Se Sopan Tak. I first read these when I was in high school and was so struck with the contradictions and failings of such a greatly respected figure. Perhaps that was my first deep insight into a great life!

Having gone through a full credit course termed “Biography”, I developed an even stronger belief in the power of a biopic.

There I was last year at London Business School, with sixty others, presented with the task of making a PechaKucha that depicted the journey of our lives so far, through pictures, and presenting it to the entire cohort.

What on the face of it may seem to be a simple task, took each one of us through an emotional roller coaster through all the years of our life, its ups and downs, its key events and turning points. We had to draw on what we liked and disliked about our journey, what was pleasant and not so in all these years, what we did or didn’t want to do, what we had the courage to accept or didn’t have the courage to reject.

Using pictures to say your story is also very nostalgic. I personally shuffled through over 500 photographs from the past thirty-nine years and could not help getting lost in just going through them again and again. The choice of what to show and what not to, was a crazy one.

How do you build a story that encompasses your life in a few minutes, through some of those pictures? I guess its like directing a movie, you have the story, you need to put together a screenplay, edit it so well that it plays to the timeline while conveying the story completely, or at least as much as you would want to convey. Revealing the deliberations, drama, and destiny one has gone through. In retrospective, it actually feels like a movie. An interesting one at that!

Finally, how much did we have the courage to share, with sixty others we met only a couple of months ago. Knowing each would have their own view on the journey we have gone through.

The brilliance of the exercise was the transparency and detailed insights, with which each story got shared. Most of us were in for a surprise as each story unfolded. Marvelling at how rich each life around is! How much each has seen, done, and gone through! Realizing, how every life is a treasure of experiences, that when shared prolifically, never fails to leave others awe struck.

And understanding what is it with biopics that has, and will always keep us - human beings – captivated.