Lessons to learn from Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar'

There is a classic kung-fu film called Snake in the Monkey’s Shadow. Many years ago, a friend from my building saw it. And one night during summer vacation, when some of us had assembled on the terrace in those pre-mobile days, he told us the story of the film.
He said the film revolved around two guys — one an exponent of snake style kung-fu and the other monkey style. This is what they did

“Snake monkey ko dho dho dhota hai. Monkey coach ke paas jaata hai, sikhta hai, aur snake ko dho dho dhota hai. Phir snake coach ke pass jaata hai...”

And this is how the story narration went on. It is possible that the film indeed had nothing to it beyond snake and monkey taking turns at whipping each other and then seeking fresh advice from their respective Greg Chappells. But even taking that into consideration, my friend had distilled the film plot to something even Gandhi sons and sons-in-laws could understand.

This is precisely what I did with Interstellar (spoilers ahead). I’m not the science and tech type. The rare occasions that I watch films like these, I tune off after a while and just enjoy the visual and sound spectacle (of the film and also of Intestinestellar — the tummy rumblings of the audience post gluttonous amounts of samosa and cheese popcorn). For me, therefore, Interstellar had one simple message — guys, we got to khisko from earth and find a Gurgaon somewhere in space. Due to our greedy exploitation of the planet the atmosphere was PMSing and destroying all the okra. What’s the point of living on an earth without bhindi fry?

After the film, my wife and I walked out of the theatre, fearing our daughter would be older than us when we got home. Amidst this worry I continued to have random thoughts about the scenario the movie presented — a compulsory search for a new land humans could inhabit.

For example, Old Spice would be handy in space. If you remember, Old Spice had a famous commercial in which a man rides waves to the classical music tune of O Fortuna and then splashes on after shave. Going by the movie, there are some mighty waves in space. The only thing is that the surfer dude should take his full shaving kit and clothes along. The waves are so big by the time one comes down he will be ready to leave for office, with Anne Hathaway gazing approvingly.

We can also do with the ecommerce guys. Because what do you do till your family and friends show up on the new planet? Mankind could be on iPhone 6000 by then, and e-commerce portals would have hopefully sorted out their delivery issues

We also need cafes. Nothing like a double shot cappuccino when you rise from the hibernation chamber.

You need books, just to make them fall off a shelf in case some more messages need to be transmitted to earth. Take some of those indulgent Indian novels where there is no plot, just navel-gazing.

Lastly, cricket. Interstellar showed baseball being played in space. Surely India’s national sport needs to be transported too. For our cricket officials and players, betting will be more interesting with a whole new matrix of weather and atmospheric conditions.