They say ‘World loves heroes…but more than that…it loves to see heroes falling’! It’s true, ‘Excellence can be a punishable crime’…
…Last night…I watched ‘Phenomenon’… 5th time!
Some movies are not to be watched with friends & frolic…they are to be steered into, alone, one fine evening and to be mused upon…It is one of them! As usual, it touched me deep inside… In fact, if it wouldn’t have, then I would have rushed to a neurologist…fearing that either my neocortex (seat of intelligence) is working too much, or my amygdala (seat of emotions) is working too less!
The movie is about an ordinary guy who accidently gets blessed by an extraordinary ability. Suddenly now everybody wants to exploit his prowess or dissect him as a case-study for future generations. Nobody thinks about what he is going through or wants. Finally, he discovers that he is not going to live for long and rest of the movie is all about his effort to restore his right to die peacefully.
The movie is one of the most serene & calm movies I have ever watched. Its pace is its USP…Cinema at its soothing best! You seldom find the subtlety of emotions and the nuances of neurons which this movie captures in its climax. Actors are characters… location a canvass and… background-score a miser’s delight! Nothing melodramatic & clichéd…Sheer softie, melting effortlessly!
John Travolta is so lovable that I have begun to hate him for it! His restrained yet soulful portrayal is magically matched with his murmuring voice-modulation, whispery smile and that Godly shine in eyes! In the end, you don’t feel sympathy for hero’s death; you feel great love and a sense of relief that at last the man left peacefully…
Irony, when not satirical or cynical,… is heartening! … If you think the vocabulary was too complex, just watch the movie…you won’t need a dictionary to know the meaning!
After all, Feelings came first…words later!
About Sandeep Atre
Dr. Sandeep Atre:
• Counseling Psychologist and an internationally recognized ‘Emotional & Social Intelligence’ Expert, with experience of more than two decades in helping people ‘sort out’ and ‘excel in’ intrapersonal and interpersonal matters. He holds a PhD in Management and a Master’s degree in Psychology (www.dratrecounsels.com).
• Founder of Socialigence – a venture specializing in development of ‘Social & Emotional Intelligence’ and its offshoot interpersonal skills through workshops and an award-winning online course rooted in neuroscience and psychology (www.socialigence.net).
• Author of two books related to his domain, namely - “Understanding Emotions Logically” and “Observing Nonverbal Behavior”; and third book on various aspects of life, named “Two Paras of Everyday Wisdom”. Moreover, the collection of his Nazms and Ghazals is published as a book titled “Baat Jazbaat Ki”.
• Corporate Trainer, with experience of close to two decades. Has conducted 150+ workshops/sessions for 50+ organizations & institutions like CSC, Cummins, Piramal, Ranbaxy, Lupin, Bridgestone, Michelin, Eicher, Maruti, Force, Idea, Airtel, NBHC, SBI, HDFC, L&T, Zydus, Thapar University, Banasthali, Narsee Monjee, Symbiosis, IIFM Bhopal, Azim Premji University, Nirma, Welingkar & IBS Hyderabad.
• Co-Founder and Director of CH EdgeMakers – a leading ‘Coaching and Training’ organization of central India for more than 24 years. He has trained close to 100 thousand students for ‘Soft Skills’ & ‘Entrance & Recruitment Preparation’ (www.ch-india.com).
• ‘Management Speaker and Orator’. Has featured at platforms like TEDx, IIM, IIT, NIT, CII, YI, CII-IWN, TCS, IMA, ICAI, ECA, ISHRAE, NEN, Sahodaya, Aditya Birla Education Academy, Round Table, LinkedIn Local, Rotary International, MP State’s Teachers’ Training, Academic Staff College DAVV, Police University Rajasthan, Police Training Academy Indore & more than 100 institutions.
• Member of noted associations and boards. Has been an ‘Executive Committee’ member of Indore Management Association. Associate Editor of IMA publications. Governing Council Member of Banasthali University’s SBBJ Centre for Research in MSME & Promotion of Entrepreneurship in Women. Executive Member of IMS, DAVV Alumni Association. Member of Rotary International’s ‘Group Study Exchange’ team to Minnesota, USA. ESI Coach with FWSA Australia.
Note: For glimpses of work, watch YouTube Channel ‘Dr. Sandeep Atre at Socialigence’.
