Orphanage Romance

Move over, little orphan Annie! The true story I am about to recite chronicling the life of one of the employees of the volunteer organization here puts her rags to riches tale to shame. So, when we girls found out about his recent marriage, we of course cooed and wanted to know more, in particular if his marriage was arranged (as 70% still are here) or if if was, as they say, a "love marriage." When he said it was a love marriage, we were even more intrigued. Rightfully so, it turns out, as it truly is the kind of great love story and feel good story that Hollywood goes nuts for.

So after a rough upbringing, he ran away at the age of 10 to a hotel where he lived and worked as a dishwasher. One of the guests, who he refers to as one of his heroes, brought him to an orphanage where he met his wife, who had been there since age six. The orphanage happened to be one at which volunteers from this organization used to work, which is how he got his job. So, he and his wife grew up together in the orphanage and when they were 21, he asked her if she loved him and said that if she did, they should get married. He said she took a bit to think it over but then said yes. Now they are married happily and he says he is extremely happy with his life, and it shows. When people have lived through such trying experiences and can still be consistently joyful and kind, it really puts our lives into perspective.

I plan to turn this into a screenplay that will cause moviegoers worldwide to bawl or at least tear up. I mean, it would be an instant blockbuster and possibly a Best Picture winner- two orphans grow up together, fall in love, get married and live happily ever after. It could also potentially be a Disney movie with sequels and original music.

...Or it could be a Bollywood movie. For anyone who hasn't seen one, they are lengthy productions with intermissions and always have at least one colorful song and dance number. Bollywood films are fun but there is no rhyme or reason as to what they deem appropriate and what is too scandalous. For example, it was apparently acceptable to show a bra from a distance and on an exotic dancer, but a close up of a bra that someone was holding was blurred out like a criminal's face in police shows. The lead character drank until she was fairly sloshed, danced and partied, and tongue-kissed a random older Italian man. Sensitive readers may need to skip over this next scandalous bit- Rani, the lead female, shared a hostel in Amsterdam with THREE other MEN! What a slut.

Thankfully, despite being in Hindi, the plot was easier to follow than a snail moving in a straight line through molasses. Random English phrases were sprinkled among the dialogue as well, with seemingly no rhyme or reason like whenever they said "I love you." The songs were entertaining, most of the jokes were apparent even in Hindi, and it was a good story of female empowerment. I highly recommend "Queen."