#LockdownRecommendations: Rajesh Khanna's never-dying classic 'Anand'
In its entirely, Anand is not too optimistic, not unreasonably so at least. The film is acutely aware of death, suffering, and other complex paradoxes that life brings us. It revolves around a dying man, it frequently talks of death, and it ends with death. However, it's the manner it transpires which offers us hope and positivity. Here's why it matters, now and forever.
Here's what the film is about
Anand Sehgal (Rajesh Khanna), a free-spirited and happy-go-lucky man, is suffering from a rare terminal illness and has not more than six months left to live. He befriends a pessimist doctor, Bhaskar (Amitabh Bachchan), a hospital matron, and many more before his eventual demise. Anand's life is short, but that does not stop him from creating undying bonds and living life to the fullest.
Death is imminent and so is suffering
Anand, both the film and the character, neither fall for nor let the viewer fall for oblivion. There is a reasonable amount of awareness about suffering and death. But Anand, the character, has no qualms about death. For him, it's not death, but lack of life, which should be feared. "Maut toh bas ek pal hai, Babu Moshai," he utters at one point.
What matters is the way we look at things
Anand re-establishes that a lot of things are out of our control and will always be. Anand couldn't ever control his illness, all he was left with is the way he dealt with it. And, he chose to be alive, for whatever time he had. In his first meeting with Bhaskar, Anand makes it clear, "Babu Moshai, Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi."
Little things are the big things
Perhaps because he realizes he is short of time, Anand sees things pretty clearly. He doesn't desire extravagant things to be happy. He just wants to talk a lot, spread smiles, sing and hum as he tries to make most of his remaining share of the pie. Now, in these times of substantial uncertainty, we all could (and should) copy that attitude from Anand.
Our relations remain alive, even after we don't
All that Anand craves is love and connection. As he awaits his impending death, he creates such beautiful bonds with people around himself that it breaks the hearts of them all, while bidding him the final goodbye. Anand lets us know that while we're sure to bid farewell to the world one way or the other, the relations we form would remain alive, forever.
