Mani Ratnam produces and directs the film Guru, in which a young commoner dreams of becoming a businessman. He succeeds despite obstacles and social constructions, but ultimately his life ends up on trial for various corruptions and scandals. In 2007, when the film was released, India's population and economy were growing tremendously. However, corruption and scandals were emerging in the country. Ratnam presents Guru's final test as a microcosm of India's ongoing test with itself and the world, and the nation must act as it progresses into the future. The various elements of the scene, such as the waiting, the crowd and the jury, describe the current situation of India. The trial serves as an immediate warning and call to action for people. The Guru's life depends on it. To survive, he must fight his cause and appeal to the public and his opponents without using violence. Therefore, he gives a speech in which he instills a sense of national pride, drawing on the core Indian values ​​of resistance, loss and perseverance. Its journey parallels that of India, and the nation's progress requires courage, vision and unity of its people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The way Mani Ratnam describes Guru's trial represents the current divided state of India. First, the anticipation of the scene reflects the expectations of India by the world and its people. The Guru left the last audience with a single word, “Namaste”, which literally means “I bow to you”. However, as he climbs the steps of the courthouse, the environment is very different from that of the previous trial. Some people hope that he will be hanged while others believe in him and Shakti Corporation. This is the climax of the film just as India seems to be at the peak of its growth. Public opinion questions the government over recent rumors of scandals and corruption. Their loss of faith in India is the same distrust that the Guru's supporters are experiencing. The next scene will dictate the fate of Guru, his wife, the Shakti Corporation and the people of India. The pressure of Guru's trial arises from the presence of an audience, which is also the international audience currently watching India. Before Guru arrives, a crowd has gathered in front of the courthouse. A man manages to speak to the Guru: “I have actions of Shakti. I married my three daughters to that. That's all I wanted to say...thank you. Don't worry because I am with you." Ratnam adds this interaction to the film to make the process more personal. What happens in India affects the daily lives of billions of people; even the simple life of a taxi driver will be determined by its outcome. court is packed and Guru sits in the center of the aisle with only his wife by his side and the background of the people behind him is blurred The intense drum music in the background, combined with the slow climb up the courthouse stairs and towards the its place, amplifies the pressure of the impending trial of Guru and India. The anger of the people inside and outside the court is the same cry of discontent of the people of India court despite all the confusion. Likewise, the government is trying to prevent the angry people of India from seeing the truth. Only for this trial can the public enter the doors of the court. In previous hearings, charges against Guru had been brought behind closed doors. The judge reminds the Guru: “Be careful what you say, the audience is present. What you say could go against you.” This interjection from the jury not only highlights the presence of thepublic, but also sheds light on the jury's feelings towards the public. The government officials on the panel warn the Guru that in front of witnesses they themselves may be wearing a mask to hide their true motives. The role of the media in Guru's last scene parallels that of the real world of India. Before and during the trial, lights flash everywhere and permeate the scene. Shutter sounds distract viewers trying to watch Guru and the film, creating a physical disturbance. Also, the first row of people behind the Guru have black cameras hanging around their necks. Just as cameramen obstruct ordinary people's view of Guru's trial, the media distorts people's view of India. The public does not have the opportunity to see the truth and, even if they did, they are distracted by the media's portrayal of events. The presence of the press during the film's climactic event is crucial, as viewers wonder whether Guru will emerge victorious in the media. The melodramatic film techniques that accentuate the drama of the scene illustrate people's anticipation and emotions towards the current state of India. After the Guru's prolonged entrance, the judge silences the crowd and so the music fades away. Without music the scene is more realistic, which convinces the audience that the trial is serious and not made up. However, once the judge gives him five minutes, Guru regains his heroic music as he stands to speak. During the speech, the background music varies as the audience's feelings towards India vary. Likewise, the camera changes focus throughout the scene as the Indian people concentrate and react to various questions and concerns. Instead of showing an overall view of the scene, Ratnam zooms in on Guru or the panel. Immediately before or after Guru asks a provocative question, the camera reacts, just as people would react, and focuses on the answerer. Ratnam successfully heightens the viewers' suspense towards the Guru's and the panel's responses even as the people of India eagerly await the nation's response to current events. Ratnam conveys India's need for an immediate and efficient call to action through the constraints of the Guru's voice and his 5 minute time constraint. Just before the judges leave, Guru takes the opportunity to speak. The trial is his last chance to plead his case to the public and the jury. Likewise, if India does not react to the current situation, the country may lose its chance forever. However, this call to action also needs to act efficiently as the time window is limited. Furthermore, the country is constrained to a limited amount of resources and must use them wisely as Guru did with his voice. Viewers are on the edge of their seats and in the next few minutes Guru must unite people to save the nation from imminent death. Guru's speech is a critical turning point in the film as it also generates support from his audience in court. to his on-screen audience. To overcome the recent split and his company's difficulties, he must appeal to both the jury and the people. Therefore, he attempts to create a sense of national pride by comparing his individual story with the personal stories of others and, ultimately, with the history of India. All of these journeys are united through common themes of poverty, social structure, jealousy and loss. In his speech, Guru discusses his own struggles with poverty to identify with his audience and with India in his speech. He connects his early life to present-day India: "I went around carrying cans as a petrol pump assistant,just like our country goes to the World Bank begging, 'Give us money' – 'we want to build roads.'" India and the Guru may appear powerful and wealthy to people, but the truth is that both have encountered poverty. Guru humbly says: “All I know is business, hard work and poverty.” With this attitude, the audience sees that Guru is vulnerable and, as a result, people understand that in reality everyone is facing the problem of poverty. Just as the rigidity of the Indian social structure almost prevented the Guru from succeeding, the division between the Indian social classes stunts the growth of the nation. He comments on the activity of the rich: “I don't know how to play golf or not I go to the horse races” and then says what he can do “but in my job I am a solid player”. The Guru states that the trivial differences that distinguish the rich are not related to one's entrepreneurial skills. He further discusses his experiences: " But the doors of business opened only to the rich, doors made by the government." In the last sentence, he directly blames the Indian government for social class inequalities, and thus the people are united by a common enemy. Next, Guru talks about the anger and jealousy that cause division among people in his company and in India. In his journey, the main conflict arises when his brother-in-law is angry that the company is growing without his contribution. His feelings of disconnection from the company and Guru turn into jealousy and he leaves the company. Similarly, according to the BBC, during the year the film was released (2007), the Indian government announced the strongest economic growth figures in 20 years, amounting to 9.4% in the year to March. Some were worried about the country's rapid growth, and perhaps other countries were jealous of India. The Guru asks, “What are you angry about? My growth or the speed of my growth? Or that I have exceeded your expectations of an ordinary villager?" Guru argues that India is finally proving itself at the international level as well as at the micro level. He encourages the public to ignore adversaries, be it the government or other countries, because their anger comes from envy. A common feeling shared by Guru and the country of India is loss. Guru tries to gain public sympathy: “I have lost a lot by coming here. I lost this hand. Damn, this thing crashes for no reason. And when this investigation ends... I don't know what else I will lose... my voice... my mind..." He explains that his journey to becoming a businessman was not easy with his background demographic. Similarly, people from the lower classes in India feel that they have to work much harder than the rich. Families and children are starving and losing is present throughout their daily lives suffers from national disasters, conflicts in Pakistan and inter-religious conflicts is necessary for an individual or a country to survive and progress. Guru's hard work in his journey illustrates India's need to continue to persevere. In the film, Guru never accepts a no for an answer, just as he will not allow the test to end his life and achievements. He explains, “I have fallen many times before learning knowledge and Guru inspires the public and the people of India to overcome the tests in their journeys . He also talks about dedication: "To save money I walked 20km from Pydhonie carrying huge bales of polyester on my head." The Guru was committed to his goal of becoming a successful businessman, and India is also capable of becoming a world power. However, every individual Indian has to carry a part of the nation on his shoulders. The road ahead will not be easy, but Guru proves that it is..