Article Written By EIH Researcher And Writer
Vageesha Yadav
Railway journeys have been lively memories of our childhood. Train journey embodies different emotions, and experiences for us which are very subjective. From one station to the next, brings new faces and interesting interactions. A sense of spontaneity lies there. Including trains in the cinema has been frequent and watching the scenic beauty through the cameraman’s point of view has been a delight for us. The romance in trains shown in cinema has a huge influence in that it is idealized by generations. Catching a train in haste always reminds me of the last scene of Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jaenge. Also, train sequences became a way of narrating the story and connecting with human’s deep and complex emotions which might not be expressed in words, have been manifested metaphorically. The Indian Cinema has plenty of such. This article will take us through the appearance of trains in a symbolic manner, in movies, to express complex human emotions.
- Spirituality and Self-discovery
The whole story of the movie THE DARJEELING LIMITED is fabricated in the journey of a train. The three brothers travel in search of spirituality in a planned manner, but nothing goes as per their itinerary. But in this whole process, they go through certain situations- the village scene, when in an effort to save the drowning children and unfortunately one child dies, they attended the funeral and experienced a repressed flashback of their father’s funeral. That unfortunate event was the reason for their grief that led to their separation from each other and also from their mother. Also, the journey is making them talk to each other either in the form of frustrations or consoling, but eventually, they forgive themselves and each other. Here the journey is associated with starting anew, leaving behind old emotions or habits for something fresh and new.
A still from The Darjeeling Limited
- Discovering India- the beautiful diversity and a sad reality
Railways ruptured the discrimination which had been consistent in Indian social fabrics. In Gandhi’s quest to understand India more deeply, the train scene in the movie shows heterogeneity inside the train, and the vast rural diversity (supported by beautiful background music given by Pt. Ravi Shankar), fills the heart with joy. The soul-searching trip across the subcontinent, what could be a better way to discover the country than a train?
Whereas, the movie Swades, shows the sad reality of rural India, for its poverty, deprived of fundamental needs as per today’s times, and backwardness due to inequality and discrimination. The heartbreaking scene was, on a railway station, a small boy in tattered clothes, selling water for his livelihood, in the scorching climate.
Railways in the then India and the heterogeneity of people. A still from the movie Gandhi (1982).
A still from the movie Swades
- Romance and carefreeness
The song Chal chaiyya chayya,is one such example. Every 90s kid has grown up listening to this track. This is from Mani Ratnam’s film DIL SE; it was the first major song in the Indian Cinema that was filmed on a moving train. It became so famous that many producers wanted a train action for their film. The mysticism of the song is supported by the lyrics and of course the imagery of the valleys, caves, and greenery. One of the lines of the song-
WO YAAR HAI JO KHUSHBOO KI TARAH
JISKI ZUBAAN URDU KI TARAH
MERI SHAAM RAAT, MERI KAYANAAT
WO YAR MERA SAIYYAAN SAIYYAAN…………
reflects love, sprightliness, and carefreeness. Train here marks the rhythm of life and hope to see the beloved once again.
- Unpredictability of life
Life is a long journey, in some movies the train has been exemplified well. The movie, Jab we met, in its initial scene, has a railway journey. Two characters, one is Aditya, who is aimless, and depressed, board a random train, where he meets the other character Geet, who is talkative, full of life, and happy for no reason. Several mixed-up events took place which made them friends, and various ups and downs changed the fundamental nature of the two characters. Geet’s influence changes Aditya, he becomes more forgiving and tries to find happiness in the things around him, just like Geet did. Whereas Geet has become completely numb to the emotion after getting a setback from the love of her life. In this whole story, there is the uncertainty of the happenings. In the last scene, the passing of the train is a confrontation of the fear of missing something which is uncertain but can be right.
Things that were desired might not happen; maybe what was not thought to be good might become a benefit. This is best described in Chennai Express, as the movie is named after a train that changed the lives of two characters from different cultural backgrounds and with different goals. The film revolves around Rahul, who accidentally boards the Chennai Express and journeys from Mumbai to Rameswaram with the daughter of an influential don. The comical twists and turns express the uncertainty but beautiful turns in life.
A still from the movie Jab We Met
- Happy endings and Sad endings
Indian cinema has many examples of happy romantic endings and train manifests starting a new journey of life. Dilwale Dulhaniya is one such example, which is desirable but in real life it might not happen. Teesri Kasam has an unconventional ending in which the train in the last scene, shows the separation despite love and understanding between Hirabai and Hiraman. Here the departure of Hirabai by train brings the sad ending, telling that life will go on, no matter what.
The iconic scene. A still from Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge
The unusual ending. a still from Teesri Kasam
Incorporating trains in cinema has not only made content relatable but also opened people’s minds to reflect on themselves.
References
- Railway and cultural history by Aruna Awasthi
