THE SUBTLETY OF MEANING IN BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN

In the 2015 film Bajrangi Bhaijaan, there is a scene of the hero, Bajrangi (Salman Khan) was sleeping near an entrance of a mosque. An Imam spotted him and invited him to come into the mosque. Bajrangi said he can’t because he is not a Muslim. To that the Imam laughed out loud and said, “So what brother? This place is open for everyone.”

Within the confines of light hearted drama, comedy and adventure wrapped with beautiful melodies of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, (which is a grand trademark of Bollywood) lies a subtle critique of two conflicting countries and religion (Hindu of northern India and the Muslim of Pakistan). Where two different faiths from two countries can be united through humanity and compassion, which is showcased and symbolised by the character arc of both Bajrangi and Munni. It peaked in that finale scene where both crushed through the man-made political borders and be united.

It is sad that the current generation which is the product of brainwashing and indoctrination by a system that feeds on differences has demonised any idea of unity. In Koran it says that God has created us differently for us to know each other. And what would we find if we finally know each other? It is that we are all the same.

Of course, the advocates of the system for divisions will surely blasphemised this idea because their goal is for their politicians to win the next election. Whilst the real statemen would think of the next generation. As how a 19th-century American theologian and author James Freeman Clarke said it. It is a commentary on thinking in short-term and a long term vision.

At the end of the film Gubra, Yasmin Ahmad included the Rumi quote saying, “The lamp is different but the light is the same.” The universality of the symbolic meaning of light is used even by Tolkien in the Lord Of The Rings. Galadriel passes Frodo the Light of Eerendil and says, “May it be a light for you in dark places, when all the other lights go out.”

And may other conflicting bordering tribes of all faiths anywhere in the world find common ground and peace.

Happy Diwali to all.