War Poetry and comparison with Bollywood movies.

Hello Reader!

This blog is in response to a thinking activity given by Megha  ma'am. In this Blog I am going to write about my understanding of "War Poetry".

About War Poetry:

War poetry is, simply put, poetry that deals with the subject of war. Often composed during a particular conflict, these poems are usually written by soldiers. However, nurses and doctors in military hospitals, and even war correspondents have written war poetry. In general, the authors are all people who have seen what really happens on the battlefield with their own eyes. Although people have been writing verses about war for thousands of years, war poetry differs considerably from previous eras’ poems about conflicts. The poems written by soldiers from World War I and later conflicts were not epics; these verses did not praise heroes or epic battles. Rather, they often questioned the purpose of war, why people fight, and overall an unflinchingly realistic portrayal of the nature of battle. War poetry is exclusively realistic, showing warfare in an unglamorous and unromantic light.

Although the term ‘war poetry’ comes to be used principally after the First World War, which saw an increase in poetry written about combat, the poetry of the First World War was actually part of a longer tradition of poetry about war, a tradition that it reacted against. In war poetry before the First World War, particularly British war poetry, it was rarer for the poet to be involved in combat, rather, these poems operated as comments upon these wars, and were used as ways of translating that experience to the public.

Comparing war poems to regional, Bollywood, Hollywood movies, web series, and patriotic songs is a challenging task as these are different forms of art with unique styles, themes, and audiences. However, there are some pieces of art that can be compared to war poems based on their shared themes, such as the horrors of war, bravery, and sacrifice.

One example of a Bollywood movie that can be compared to war poems is "Lakshya." This film follows the journey of a young man who joins the Indian Army to serve his country and experiences the realities of war first-hand. The film showcases the bravery and sacrifices made by soldiers, the human cost of war, and the impact it has on the soldiers and their families.

In Hollywood, the film "Saving Private Ryan" is another good example. This film is set during World War II and follows a group of American soldiers who are tasked with finding and saving a soldier who is the only surviving son in his family. The film depicts the horrors of war and the sacrifices made by soldiers, and is a powerful tribute to the bravery and determination of those who served.

In terms of web series, "Band of Brothers" is a great example. This series is based on the experiences of Easy Company, a group of American soldiers who fought in Europe during World War II. The series highlights the camaraderie and sacrifices made by soldiers, and it is a moving tribute to the bravery and determination of those who served.

As for patriotic songs, "Maa Tujhe Salaam" is a good example. This song, which was composed by AR Rahman, is a tribute to the bravery and sacrifices made by soldiers who serve their country. The song highlights the love and respect that the nation has for its soldiers, and it is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices that are made to protect the nation.

In conclusion, while these pieces of art may not be war poems in the traditional sense, they are powerful tributes to the bravery and sacrifices made by soldiers who serve their countries. Through these films, songs, and series, we are able to gain a deeper understanding of the human cost of war and the impact it has on those who serve.

Comparison of Poem and Bollywood movie:-

We are studying some war poetry here are they,

1. Dulce Et Decorum Est by- Wilfred Owen

2. The Soldier by- Rupert Brooke

3. The Fear by- Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

4. The Hero by- Siegfried Sassoon

5. The Target by- Ivor Gurney

In this context I am going to compare Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est poem with the Bollywood movie "Gunjan Saxena". They both have the same themes.

"Dulce et Decorum Est" is a poem by the English poet Wilfred Owen. Like most of Owen's work, it was written between August 1917 and September 1918, while he was fighting in World War 1. Owen is known for his wrenching descriptions of suffering in war. In "Dulce et Decorum Est," he illustrates the brutal everyday struggle of a company of soldiers, focuses on the story of one soldier's agonizing death, and discusses the trauma that this event left behind. He uses a quotation from the Roman poet Horace to highlight the difference between the glorious image of war (spread by those not actually fighting in it) and war's horrifying reality.

-"Dulce et Decorum Est" Themes:

1. The Horror and Trauma of War:

2. The Enduring Myth that War is Glorious:

3. The Realities of War:

4. Horrors of War:

5. Lie of War's Glory:

(Dulce Et Decorum Est Animation)

-This are some themes of poem and in movie we can see all themes.

In this movie there are so many scenes of WAR and there are scenes of  SOLDIER and how their Family reacts when their children are at war field.

Story Beginning in Lucknow, 1984, the story begins with young Gunjan Saxena in a flight along with her older brother, Anshuman. Gunjan wants to look out of the airplane window, but Anshuman doesn't let her. A kind air hostess tends to the problem and takes Gunjan to the cockpit. Looking at the cockpit immediately sparks a desire in her mind to become a pilot as she feels enthusiastic about the plane's features.

A few years later, Gunjan is congratulated for her academic excellence with her proud parents, Anup and Kirti, planning to send her to high school. Gunjan, however, wants to drop out of high school to become a pilot. Anshuman feels that women should not be in the cockpit, but in kitchen making food for the family, but Anup strongly disagrees. A firm believer of gender equality, he allows Gunjan to experiment with her desire to become a pilot. Gunjan makes multiple attempts, but these are thwarted by concerns regarding her educational qualifications and high costs, causing her to return home dejected each time. While her parents differ in their outlook towards her dream, with Kirti hoping her daughter would soon be wary and Anup insistent on allowing his daughter to pursue her dreams relentlessly, an advertisement in a newspaper for acceptance into the Indian Air Force provides Gunjan just the right opportunity for making an effort to enter the air force. Anshuman, who is himself serving in the army, completely disapproves and tells Gunjan that the Air Force isn't a place for women. She, however, ignores him, and goes ahead with the formalities, later finding out on the day of the results that she is the only female who got accepted.

During her medical tests, Gunjan learns that she is one centimeter too short and seven kilograms too much for the Air Force requirements. She is devastated by this, but learns that she can take a retest in two weeks, and discusses it with Anup, who asks her not to give up, and together they come up with a workout regime to lose weight. Across the retest, she still falls short on the height criterion, but the officers conclude that the length of her hands and legs would compensate for it, and accept her into the force. However, while Anup and Kirti are unable to contain their pride, Anshuman still remains in denial of his sister's dedication, but Gunjan decides to ignore his reservations and commences training. During her training, she finds herself subjected to several harsh realities and inconveniences due to the male-dominated order of the air force, and contemplates leaving the camp, when a crisis situation causes her to reconsider when, in 1999, the Kargil war begins, and all Air Force pilots are needed.

Gunjan is determined to take part in the war, and despite Anshuman meeting her and dissuading her from participation, disregards his reservations yet again. She finds herself badly needed in a mission and proceeds with it, but is then ordered to abort because the mission is too difficult for her. She reluctantly resigns to the camp. Suddenly, news of army soldiers being heavily wounded in the battle arrives, and it is up to her to save them.

Gunjan and another pilot take separate helicopters and go over to aid the injured soldiers. Back at the camp, army soldiers ask her to abort the mission but regardless of their opinion, she proceeds. Suddenly, as the other helicopter gets shot down from an RPG attack, Gunjan rescues the other pilot and the wounded soldiers and successfully completes a risky maneuver, despite being exposed to bullets herself. After the mission and the war, she is rewarded for her courage and bravery, with Anup feeling proud of her.

so, here I put my understanding about war poetry and I am trying to compare Bollywood movies. I hope you enjoy reading this blog. Thank you so much for reading this blog.

{Words-1571}

{Videos-07} 

{Images-08}