Thursday, January 17, 2013

Expressions of Life

I was riding my scooter on my way home this evening. You know you need all the senses and much more to be alert when riding on Indian road; Bangalore road are known to be more notorious.

I had to screech by apply my right brake when I saw two women with plastic pots startled. I did not get angry or loose my cool, instead I laughed. It was amusing since I got reminded of Tom & Jerry. Yeah, the expression on Tom's face when he has to short stop himself. Like this..

Image from http://im06.galawallpapers.net/desktop/85241/tom-and-jerry-wallpaper
 
That was how those women looked like. Since then, I have been thinking, isn't that cartoon so versatile. Yeah, everyone likes Tom & Jerry; my all time favorite is Tom & Jerry. I can watch them even today and I will enjoy them even when I am in my ripe age. But what I found the cartoon series so versatile was it apparently captures all the expressions a person can go through in his life.

Sorrow, pain, happiness, jealousy, helplessness, stupidity, fear - you name it and it's there. Tom fearing the dog, Jerry feeling elated that he hoodwinked Tom. Tom feeling pain when a nail pokes him through. Everything.

I somehow realized today that there was a hidden message in those series. Whether there was any real hidden message or not, I do not know. But I came to realize something and that is important. Whether be it sorrows, grief, pain, every situation is faced with challenges and attempt to succeed. More than that, its faced with such enthusiasm and elan.

I like to see Tom attempting again and again to catch Jerry and Jerry in turn try hard every time to trick Tom. Now isnt that what life is? Life throws challenges and we say "Bring it on!"

15 comments:

  1. Tom and Jerry cuts across the barriers of age and will be so in times to come:)

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  2. In my young days all the Tom& Jerry I could see was at a movie theatre in Trivandrum which showed it before the main English movie. Till date, B, I have my sympathy and support for Tom! In spite of his seeming cunning, Tom is a lovable idiot. Jerry is the smart survivor. And there is the odd and rare cartoons where you find Tom and Jerry helping each other - in spite of their eternal sworn enmity, they can't live without each other! I am nearly brought to tears when in the last scenes Tom and Jerry shaking their hands!

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    1. Exactly Balan. Though they are bitter enemies, they cant live without each other. Isnt that what life teaches us also?

      No wonder we like the characters of Tom and Jerry so much

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    2. Bala, when I was little kid, my dad took me to a movie called aladin (120 mins). the theatre played tom and jerry for the first 40 minutes. after that day, i've never seen any theatre play tom and jerry before english movies. remembered that incident only now after such a long time. :-)

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  3. Facing the challenges with light head and being cool is definitely the manthra to win. Ofcourse, Tom and Jerry is an amazing cartoon series that captured everyone's heart. I have a DVD collection of them and Popoye Show which I was whenever I want some laughter therapy for myself!

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    1. :) Yeah, I can watch them anytime. I have a good collection of some of the best episodes

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  4. They were/are my favourites too. I particularly used to like the episodes were they actually care for each other in some small way. They were enemies but of a friendly kind. Truly amazing series.

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  5. As they say in China about the "yin and yang"!
    The creation of Tom & Jerry is by Man and obviously the characteristics of Men( read it to mean the race itself)is sure to reflect in both Tom and Jerry.

    Apart from all that there is no other cartoon series that can evoke empathy , fascination and affinity as Tom & Jerry.

    The underlain philosophy of life is seldom noticed or appreciated by many who laugh and or have their eyes moist watching the series.

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    1. Yeah Anil, many fail to notice the message. It took me all these years too :)

      Think about it, are there any series out there that can evoke a sense of pity, love and contentment?

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  6. Cheerful post bindu. :-)
    I am imagining the looks of the faces of those ladies! laughing out loud here. :-)

    Talking about hidden messages, I have heard stories that 'tom' is based on 'Tommy Atkins' (very funny but itself when I think about it), and 'Jerry' nick name of German soldiers. :-p
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Atkins
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_(WWII)#Jerry

    You have superb imagination Bindu, that sometimes makes your world as beautiful as you want it to be. Involuntarily. :-)

    Why do you need nemene...nemenemi...nemenemies when you have friends like Jerry!!!
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ1KDf3O-qU

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    1. Thanks a lot for the links Gautam. I will read them, the characters base is new to me.

      Haa yeah sometimes my mind works and it surprises me too.

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  7. Smiles and more smiles:) I looove TNJ. I still have old video tapes of the series though VCRs are not used anymore. Don't have the heart to let go. Hey, your blog roll says "I chase", looks like TNJ ka asar :)

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  8. Yeah... that's what life is all about.. Bring it on is the right attitude.. and Tom and Jerry.. ah!! they fall into one of my stress buster must haves :)

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