Decoding the principle of opposites in ‘Unbreakable’ at Kalanuranjani.3
– Sumathi Sridhar
(Diploma in  Comparative Mythology)

December 25, 2016 dawned bright and clear. The world woke up to yet another merry Christmas day … albeit with a slight disappointment that this year, the festival had fallen on Sunday, a holiday!! But, the ‘Kalanuranjani’ enthusiasts were far from disappointed!! For them, this Sunday was going to be extra special!

They were in for yet another treat…..

‘Kalanuranjani’ is a group from among the student community of the department of Sanskrit, Mumbai University that aims to explore, appreciate and encourage the learning of academic concepts in a fun way, through movies.

First, a movie is chosen for screening based on its conceptual merit. Then, guided by the speaker, an expert on the chosen perspective, the hidden elements embedded in the movie are revealed and discussed in depth. The first series in this initiative is titled ‘Films and Philosophy.’ The first two events in this series saw complex concepts such as Shankara’s Advaita and Gaudapada’s dream theory made accessible to the lay audience when explained through the popular medium of movies by the articulate speaker.

As part of the third event in the series hosted by ‘Kalanuranjani’, the English movie ‘Unbreakable’, made by Manoj Night Shyamalan, was screened at the Sanskrit department’s seminar room.

Following the screening, Professor Shakuntala Gawde, an assistant professor at the department, shared insights on the various parallels that can be drawn between the key characters in the movie and the concepts of Atman (soul) and Sharira (body) as seen through the lens of Indian and Western philosophers.

She explained how David the hero of the movie, personified the Atman, the indestructible. In contrast, Elijah, the villain is portrayed as physically weak and fragile, in a personification of the mortal body.

To illustrate these concepts as proposed by the Indian philosophers, the professor quoted widely from various Upanishadic texts including Ishavasya and Brihadaranyaka Upanishads in addition to Kathopanishad and Mundakopanishad. Simultaneously, she contrasted the Indian take with Western philosophy, particularly, the Greeks’ interpretation of ‘Dualism’ in the universe. Along the way, she also introduced the concepts of the ‘Doctrine of Opposites’, discussed the Pythagorean ‘Theory of Opposites’ and Plato’s logical approach to the binary nature of the universe in addition to Hegel’s ‘Philosophy of Dialectics’. She finally wrapped up the discussion by comparing Western philosophy to the Chinese theory of Yin and Yan, adding how all these have paved the way for the modern-day theory of Structuralism.

Students pursuing various courses in the university participated in this program with full enthusiasm. A few students had also brought along their friends and acquaintances as guests. The program ended with a Q&A session where the professor answered questions from the audience.

Above all, Dr. Madhavi Narsalay, HoD of the Sanskrit department needs a special mention for encouraging the ‘Kalanuranjani’ initiative.

Thanks to ‘Kalanuranjani’ and the department of Sanskrit, Christmas day 2016 was made memorable for the ‘Kalanuranjani’ club members!! Cheers!!