Chaplin - The Legend

The past weekend, I was lucky enough to watch the classic silent movie of Charlie Chaplin "Modern Times". I have already seen the movie in bits and pieces in my school days. But this was the first time i ever got to watch it complete.

Modern Times is a film written & directed by Chaplin. The story involves this famous Little "Tramp" character struggling to survive in the modern, industrialized world. The film is a comment on the desperate employment and fiscal conditions many people faced during the Great depression, conditions created, in Chaplin's view, by the efficiencies of modern industrialization. The movie stars Chaplin & Paulette Goddard as the lead pair.

The movie follows the Tramp and a young woman - whom he rescues from the authorities who want to put her in an orphanage - as they try to overcome their impoverished street life. The Tramp attempts multiple jobs but quickly, and comically, loses them.

Apart from the humourous Chaplin we all see in the movies, the movie also makes us understand Chaplin as a great thinker & a creative revolutionist, who knew exactly how to put forth his perspectives on critical issues & feed them into their minds.

This is the first film where Chaplin's voice is heard (in the 'nonsense' song at the end). However, for most viewers it is still considered a silent film. The 'nonsense' song need not be taken with a negative intonation. The song again is a classic. Though it is lyric-less, we can still enjoy watching the way he dances. The movements & gestures are awesome. I would rate this song as one of the greatest ever piece, one can watch in a movie.

The battle of Life

There is a famous quote of JFK : "It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war". There is great amount of truth in this statement. This is a completely time-independent statement. All concepts in this world from the stone age to the modern day diplomatic philosophies revolve around this. The entire history of mankind tells us countless tales on this fact,,, no doubt, the future also will. This is not only applicable to mankind,, the truth is common to all existing in this world. The Darwin's basic theory of evolution of life deals on this principle - "Struggle for existence & Survival of the fittest". The moment life is born on this universe, there is an inevitable struggle to survive.

Everything that a creature in this world does is to keep itself safe & secure. Everything we do in our day to day life is all war preparations. Right from our personal hygiene activities, which are defensive strategies against a war that germs wage on us, to the profession we cherish; again a defensive strategy to prepare for a war against deficiency of essential resources.

All adaptations that life takes by evolution or by intellect are for securing the hold of its pocessions. The theories of evolution and sixth sense philosophies of man converge to this divine mortal combat.

All this is nothing but preparations for war - the war against sufferings. The stronger you are, you will have the upper hand in this war. The Victor can never cherish the victory during his lifetime,, Any claim of tasting success in this regard are purely temporary. After a span of war, the moment one thinks of securing the victory, means he is still in the battlefield facing another enemy. This time an unknown unenemy. The complete meaning of life lies in how much of valour and courage u have shown in the battlefield. The strength, convictions & values matter. The mark that one leaves in the pages of history speaks of his life, ages after his time. So prepare to fight it the right way.