You know, in Bangladesh, when a man above 50 is seen taking a morning jog in shorts, there is going to be some raised eyebrows. Not as many in the cities, thank God, as slowly, the importance of physical activity, irrespective of age, is beginning to set in.
Try doing that in the rural areas, or how about dancing in a wedding with people young enough to be one’s sons or daughters? The common social belief is: Young people may dance while the elderly should maintain a certain reserve, conforming to the fixed, often unbending, social image.
Well, Shahrukh Khan (SRK) -- the Bollywood icon -- in a speech he gave while accepting an honorary Doctorate at Edinburgh University, said: “Eccentricity is the pre-requisite to success. In simple language: Being a little different, shedding the stereotypes, can be rewarding.
By this he definitely did not mean that one should renounce all material tasks and wander off to the woods in loincloths, opting to be an ascetic. The speech, available on YouTube, seemed profound yet light-hearted at the same time.
Using the film plots of some of his memorable work, SRK went on to tell a hall filled with young people about the life lessons his movies taught him, and yes, the film star did not fail to acknowledge that even the most convoluted/implausible of films can sometimes impart some pearls of wisdom.
A recurring theme in his speech was the necessity to think differently and not being afraid to pursue the unconventional path.
Of course, being the super affluent star that he is, SRK can say a lot of things and get away with it. Just because he became a hit does not mean all others wanting to be unorthodox will end up the same way right?
Interestingly, the hero of so many romantic flicks acknowledged that, maybe not directly, but all over his speech the message was resonant: Become famous or remain unknown, the goal is to find one’s desired place in life and enjoy it with the accompanying eccentricities.
Bertrand Russell, the philosopher, once said: “Do not fear to be eccentric, all ideas accepted now were once termed eccentric.”
However, what was best about SRK’s speech was that he flatly cautioned: Do not become a philosopher before you are socially stable. Which means, unless you are financially backed, think before taking the jump.
As for most others, this does not mean one has to be a millionaire. The level of monetary comfort that can spur someone to become a “bohemian” varies from person to person. While one will need a large house, a few cars, a solid bank account before venturing into some kind of creative pursuit, others will possibly need a little less.
If we apply this principle to SRK’s life, or in fact any film stars, here is how it looks: Act in countless trash first, be mawkish idiots/navel-revealing silly dames for some time and then go on to play an unforgettable role that would eventually turn you into an icon.
But the lesson here is clear -- financial security comes first! A sort of practical reconciliation between real life and one’s desire to do something creatively stimulating.
Why the speech and the inherent message made such a lasting impact on me is because in Bangladesh, especially in Dhaka, a new generation of people passionately holding on to the desire to become successful by taking “new” roads, has emerged with a vengeance.
Hats off to these people who are thinking out of the “civil servant, engineer, doctor, or architect” format! Many new-age professions are springing up -- work that requires the creative impulse.
I met a film-maker the other day, he used to be a full-time employee at a renowned telecom company. But his obsession with movies led him to quit that job and pick up the camera. To be honest, even after a few hundred dramas plus a few feature-length films, he is struggling, the signs of desperation often too visible to miss.
He makes great films, both commercial and art-house. The problem was, instead of securing a steady income for his livelihood, he jumped straight into the unknown. For some this may have worked, especially the pioneers, the same usually does not apply for others, the newcomers more than anything.
Take musicians for instance. During the infancy of “band music” in Bangladesh, almost all groups that seriously took music as a profession survived because they were the beginners who evolved over the decades with their images sealed within the public psyche.
Whether the established bands produce a top-class song or a mediocre one, TV channels will call them for shows, radios will interview them, overseas expat Bangladeshi communities will eagerly hire them for international shows, and so on and so forth. Sadly, the same is less likely to happen for new groups, despite the talent.
Some author once said: Writing a good story is a great intellectual boost, finishing a book is like winning a war, but never do these quitting your day job.
I am glad to see that many actors who once took acting as their main work are now working in media houses full time. Nine to five professionals by the day, freewheelers after sunset. Livelihood is ensured and creative impulses can be followed without worry.
So, if I deconstruct SRK’s message a little differently: Divide your day -- completely sane for the first part, totally iconoclast in the second. Trust me, that is the best way.