Piku — Of Extraaa Innings

I have already written about Piku (link), but I saw it again a few days ago after the DVD came out. This time, I really liked the film, and it grew on me slowly. The poignancy of the sarod music by Anupam Roy, and the final few climactic scenes of the film are deeply moving. My father went through an operation recently, and now, he is visiting. When I looked at him after such a long time, he seemed to have aged a lot. He does not keep well. We all have to prepare for the inevitability of old age; perhaps, that is why the final few scenes of Piku make me cathartic. 

I saw a new thing which I did not see earlier. At one point in the film, we see that Bhaskor Da is watching Extraaa Innings on the television. The logo of the show is prominently featured for a few seconds. A few minutes later, Dr. Srivastava shows him a picture of a Japanese man who cycled till the age of ninety nine. The man inspired Bhaskor to learn cycling. Both these scenes point to the theme where Bhaskor is trying to extend his life. He is trying to get an 'extra innings' for his own life, and starts cycling, so that he, too, can live till ninety nine. This also gives a context to his habit of trying to hide salt. After Rana's advice, he takes his cycle and eats the most delicious food from the streets in Kolkata. When he comes back, he had the best motion of his life. Maybe the film is trying to say to enjoy life as it comes, and not get too bothered by trying to extend it by any means. Because it will come unannounced one day, how much we try, like it came to Bhaskor. 

Books in Moives: Piku's cousin reads Half of a Yellow Sun by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Don't think there is any relation to the film though.

The beautiful sarod theme by Anupam Roy

Dialogue of the Day:

"Baba mujhse apni har baat manva the, but he made sure that death also listened to him."

— Piku, Piku

P.S.— Have been extremely busy lately, with work and other stuff; have not got any time to write, but will try to write something soon because that is the only thing that makes me feel a little worthy.