Do the angry birds really make you happy?

The question we need to ask ourselves after watching the angry birds is whether the angry birds really make us happy as promised by the trailer of the movie. The famous angry birds game has entertained us. Many famous personalities have revealed their addiction to the game. I too went to watch the movie today which was equally entertaining as the game with a plot. The theme resembles that of the game. At the same time, the movie needs to be viewed from a critical lens. The movie depicts the angry birds as birds which cannot fly. They look upon the mighty eagle as their last resort when they are in danger. The eagle is far away which cannot be approached easily by the birds. Hence, they have heard about the glory of the eagle from their ancestors. The birds live in an island peacefully with their own legal system. The judiciary which is headed by the owl decides the cases and executes in the name of the eagle. They erected a statue of the eagle in their court. They have police to maintain law and order. One fine day, a ship arrives on the island. The captain of the ship is a pig with a beard without a moustache. He uses his rhetoric and befriends the birds. He gifts them catapult and other items for entertainment. One of the angry birds who is disliked by most of the birds suspects the pigs. He sneaks inside their ship and discover that it is loaded with TNT and other equipments. There were many pigs hiding in the ship. Red tries to convince his friends that the pigs have a hidden agenda. They do not pay attention to Red. Red plans to search for the eagle. Red is escorted by two of his friends in search of the mighty eagle. Red expresses his fear but the eagle does not agree to help him. On his return to the habitat of the birds, Red witnesses a party being conducted by the pigs and all the birds are busy dancing. In the meanwhile, all the eggs are ransacked by other pigs which try to load them on the ship. Red and his friends try to hinder the transshipment but in vain. Till the birds realize their carelessness, they become aware of the departure of pigs with all the eggs. Red motivates the birds to retaliate with anger and initiates to reach the pigs’ island. On arrival they see a well developed place and discover that the pig with the beard is their King. They try their best to get back the eggs safely. When they are helpless and the eggs were to be dropped in a boiler, the eagle appears on the scene and rescues the eggs on his beak and flies towards safety. The plot of the movie is promising and can stick one to her seat. But, the movie has a different meaning altogether when pondered over. Pigs are considered as haram in Islam and we can notice that the head of the pigs has a beard as grown by Muslims. In the movie, they pose a threat to the birds which live peacefully according to law and order. Their unborn are threatened by the pigs. Islamic world view has been considered as a threat to the world by the West which is threatens their next generation. The Eagle can be seen as representing the USA which has played the role of a saviour for various countries in the name of humanitarian intervention. Some poor States look forward to the powerful States during crisis. In the writings of Plato, he described that art should highlight the positive aspects of a good character and emphasise on the negative aspects of a negative character. He opines so because the audience should be attracted to the positive character and try to emulate her. The impact of visual media is more on the audience in playing this role pointed out by Plato. Hence, it is to be noted that by portraying Muslims as a threat to the world is threatening the Muslims who played no role in terrorist activities, who lead a pious life. Moreover, the invisible hands of the USA in creating such terrorist organizations are always hidden in the news covered by the media, the writings of cognitive agencies and others. It is to be noted that neither are all terrorists Mulsims nor all Muslims are terrorists. This very thought needs to be plugged out and not to be imbued in the children through such animation movies. This perspective on the movie did not fulfill the promise of angry bird making me that happy.

"Organized religion, however, is different from the religion of the individual. Religious organizations may begin with the finest values but may succumb to other pressures and turn into tyrannical bodies. When this happens religion moves away from its root purposes and turns into an organization encouraging hatred and violence and opposing the initial values with which it had itself started."- Romila Thapar, The Past as Present

Human Reality

"And the busier it gets, the more numerous the human species becomes, like some species of insect, tireless over-achievers in the evolutionary struggle. And hundreds of millions of human beings exist in poverty, disease, and squalor, rich only in their perseverance and their self-surpassing dignity. And the few – shameless self-enriching bourgeoisie surrounded by the desolation of the many, shameless self-empowering governors manipulating the bodies and the minds of the many – use all the power that science and engineering have put into their unworthy hands as if it were their personal possession. The quality and quantity of evil keeps pace with the quality and quantity of good."- Allott, Philip, Reconstituting Humanity- New International Law

Harbinger of change

The society cannot endure drastic change. There are persons with aim to change the society with an aim to curb corruption, establish peace and equality etc. Such persons are avoided by the society and sometimes, have to abscond due to pelting of false allegations on them. Conspiracy may be plotted by a few, but, the whole society will join hands to destroy the person. These days, such a conspiracy against some of the IAS officers has been highlighted by the media. I hope, the society understands them and supports them, so that we can celebrate true change.

Giant Problems - Infant Solutions

People were subjected to cruelty in the ancient times in the name of class, caste, race, gender, religion etc. Human civilization has always discriminated people in different criteria. We cannot erase this haunting past. History will be inscribed, scrutinized and criticized. Modern world critiques the ancient political and legal system for the inherent inhumanity which has prevailed since time immemorial. It is imperative to understand the foundation on which the edifice is laid, but, the fact of lament is that the modern world has facilitated continuity of brutality in similar or distinct forms. After a deep analysis it can be found that cruelty committed in modern times is equivalent to or even worse than those committed in the past. In India, even though, the root causes of some of the persisting atrocities can be inferred to ancient times, we cannot hold the ancient world entirely responsible for the present problems. It has been more than sixty years since we gained independence. Yet, we have about one million manual scavengers, schools in dilapidated condition, starving children, people who cannot afford minimum basic amenities and a plethora of problems which can be solved. Rhetoric, grandiloquence and criticism cannot bring solution; only action can.

Madras High Court Judgment is being misinterpreted

The recent judgment by the Honourable Madras High Court ordering maintenance to a woman has been misinterpreted by quoting some parts of the judgment, without considering the context in which it was delivered. Succinctly put, the appellant is a lady who was married to the respondent and had two children from him. She was not granted maintenance by the lower court due to lack of documentary evidence and other evidences like customary rituals. Justice Karnan, who presided the Court, ordered that the appellant be granted maintenance stating the fact that the couple has been living together and had two children out of the relationship. The Court held that this was to be considered as proof of marriage. This judgment should be welcomed as it addresses the plight of many women who fight for justice in the family courts, who are denied maintenance and their very survival is put at stake. The court further clarified that proof of marriage is not decided by the existence of customary rituals which are just to show the society as to the conduct of marriage. These rituals just satisfy the society that the couple has been married. It is high time that our thoughts change. Rituals and customs should not be given more importance to rationality. Religion should pursue humanity not injustice. What else can a woman deserve who did not register her marriage, did not follow rituals and trusted a man with her life, lived with him and begot two children? She did not have any other option but to be separated from him. How will she maintain herself and her children? Those children were declared as legitimate and the woman a legitimate wife. The Court has delivered justice to the woman who is in distress since the year 2000.

Problems

Sometimes, we think too much and complicate things and end up creating problems. These problems become too difficult to solve. They take away all peace.