Life can be wonderful if you're not afraid of it.
All it needs is courage,
imagination ... and a little dough.

Calvero (Charles Chaplin) says this to Terry (Claire Bloom) in Limelight (1952)

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14th Feb is Valentine’s day and in the world it is celebrated as lover’s day to express love or affection for others by different means - roses, cards, chocolates are some of them. But in reality to express love for someone, a gentle touch or look at loved one is enough. To love some one means to see happy her/him. A lover do not required particular day to celebrate/express his/her love.

For a true lover, every day is golden day - a valentine’s day.

Well, I am not trying to define “love” - whatever i have told you just now is a theme of 1931 classic movie - “City Lights” acted and directed by Charlie Chaplin. It is considered as one of the best classic movies of the century and no doubt - Chaplin at his best.

“City Lights” is 81 minutes movie. It lacks many thing while comparing current film making -

• Black & White and No Dialogs
• Not a great location
• No songs or dance number
• etc.etc.etc.

But What it contains (which todays most of the films lacks):

• A very good theme and excellent love story (even today you feel its freshness)

• A great combination of tragedy and comedy at same time in many scenes

• Explains love - without preaching

• a mind blowing climax scene

• Inspirational

• Culturally, historically and aesthetically significant till now

Some of the facts behind move:

• Chaplin made this silent film after sound was established in Hollywood. He took a huge gamble on a great story over new technology.
• In June 2008, AFI revealed its “ten top ten”, the best ten films in ten “classic” American film genres, after polling over 1500 people from the creative community. City Lights was acknowledged as the best film in the romantic comedy genre.

Why I am telling all this things and recommending a film? because presently in world, there are many forces are creating issue around valentine’s day.

Let us keep the following questions aside for a while (that you can get answer easily)

• What is valentine’s day? (you can find it easily)
• Who was Valentine or why it is celebrated on 14th feb?
• What is your opinion about it? (it matters to those who loves you)
• What is your stand on issue raised by different political parties? (Have you asked even they are firm on their stand?)

I do not intent to debate, rather I would like to say - “To live means to love some one no matter what ‘some one’ is”.

The movie teach us a great lesson of life. Its worth to watch with someone you love.

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Thus said Dinesh Gajjar
Published at 12:14 pm, Feb 13th 2009