Salvation lies within..!

If I were Doris day, I would have said,
A hundred times I watched it and then,
I watched it over again...
It seems as enchanting as ever every single time I watch it. and I know the feeling is shared by every movie freak.

The film was made by Frank Darabont starring Tim Robins and Morgan freeman in 1994 and no one could ever re-create the magic till today.. The blockbusters came and gone, highest growing records were set, movies rocked academy awards, walked on red carpet with glory, new era started but The shawshank redemption always remained at first place in every movie lover's heart and I am sure it will always be..

The funniest thing about this movie is, it didnt win any academy award though it was nominated in 7 categories and really didnt do very well in box office also. All those awards were won by, "Forrest gump"- one more classic piece. But the TV promotion in 1997 made this movie no 1 on IMDB and its still there even after 16 years.

Every scene is worth remembering, every dialogue is worth experiencing and every expression is worth appreciating. The work done by them is just out of the world.

Discussing the story is not at all my intention here, rather the way the movie has been directed, the plot, story line, climax and suspense become really secondary when compared to the philosophy, character building and message delivered in this film.

It is said that the creature can never be greater than the creator. But I think when extraordinary talent and dedication is blessed with all the positive forces in nature gives birth to such a piece, that it becomes difficult to put it in words, that the creature becomes greater than the creator..

After the film is over, we may forget everything... the dialogues, the story.. but no one can stop oneself from feeling the mesmerizing emotion of watching the masterpiece of all the time. The feeling is not of happiness, not grief, not pain and definitely not just great two and half hours.. It is something kinda satisfaction.. For me, its the driving force which keeps me moving on in life.

Andy- Andy Dufresne has become the part of my life. I never felt that it is a fiction character. He is real.. He must be... The best thing about the film is, its not filmy as it said, the prison is not a fairy tale world. The movie just takes you over as it goes on.. Every single dialogue by Stephen King has added million stars to the movie. And Tim and Freeman have lived every single line they deliver.

We become speechless when Andy says, "You know what the mexicans say about pacific? They say it has no memory, thats where I want to live rest of my life. A warm place with no memory.."

You actually start thinking about your own life, has this ruthless world taken the hope inside you? Made you live the way others want you to.. We realize this when Andy says, "They need to understand that there are places in this world which are not made out of stones. That there is something inside they cant get to, that they cant take it away from you, thats yours... Thats HOPE!" And you just pause the movie and again watch the scene when Andy says, "I think it comes to a simple choice then, Get busy living or get busy dying.."

Towards the end of the film we feel happy about Andy being out of the prison, though we cant help ourselves from feeling the emptiness in Red's mind and still the statement came from Red leaves us breathless.. "As Andy being gone, I have to remind myself that some birds arent meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright and when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice, but still the place you live in is that much more drab and empty when they are gone.."

Finally, Andy makes the change in Red, not by his words, not with speeches but with his actions.. with his attitude.. Red who has lost all his hope of new life, calls himself an institutionalized man, afraid of hoping.. Andy ignites the ray of hope in his mind, Red hopes to see the friend and shake his hand, He hopes the pacific is as blue as it has been in his dreams, He hopes....

And as they two meets on the background of dark blue pacific and long white sea shore, tears roll down from our eyes, picture becomes blur and the sentence keeps whirling in our mind... "Hope is a good thing.. May be best of the things.. And no good thing ever dies.."