On art..

This is in response to some of abzees’c ommnets on the following thread. I was having my exams those days and didn’t get the time to reply to them.

http://www.naachgaana.com/2007/12/11/street-talks-jab-we-met-some-random-thoughts/

 I agree with abzee that art has no virtue and there’s nothing suggested, required of it. Ofcourse, that is true. Art won’t be art if  there were a guidlines, a rulebook to folow. And yes, it has a structure, but the structure itself is not a defined one. I for one beleive, that art is merely a medium of setting forth an expression, even if the expression doesn’t  caper to anyone but self.

But at the same time, amongst many other guages, one of the best ways to meaure art is its depth.  And the deeper the expression hits one and as many more levels it touches one at, the more the effect and in most cases the better the art. For example, a painting that looks vibrant and colourful and that may instantly stimulate the senses  may not really have much of  an effect, or deep enough a response for the same senses, if it means not much to you. You look at it, parhaps stare for a few moments, pass over it and forget it. But if teh very same painting can somehow raise a hair somewhere, can get you to think about it, and look beyond the colours and the shades, it goes a long way in its effect, and will remain intact somewhere in teh memory for a much longer time relatively…let’s say, minutes compared to a few seconds. Similarly a movie that touches one and affects one’s senses on more levels is one that will stay with us for longer.

Movies do have a job. The Cinema’s job is to entertain. But ofcourse, entertainment means different for different people. Actually in India, and specially in teh film circles, entertainment has come to mean fun and good time. Entertainment is as much a two hour session of laughter, as it is a two hour of serious thinking. What Jab We met did for me, and I guess for most of those who loved the film, was offer acertain intersting way of life through Geet, Kareena’s character. And at the time, there was the so-called entertainment as the refer to the timepass, comedy, adventure, songs thrills etc. But ofcourse it’s all subjective.. and very personal.. and defined in a mjor way by who we are. One who has never been outside India may not apreciate Swades as much as one who has been through a life like that of Mohan Bhargav. One who has no clue about cricket may not enjoy the subtle nuance about the game and the little real-life references shown there as much as one’s life revolves around cricket.