The Soundtrack Of My Life

Film music or soundtracks as we know form an important part of any film and gives an emotional depth to a movie. There are countless great soundtracks as there are great movies out there but allow me to demonstrate a bit of biasness and sidetrack a little in this post, to pay tribute to the greatest movie i have (and will ever) watched in this lifetime i am very sure.

The Shawshank Redemption is an American film made in 1994. At over 3 and a 1/2 hours long, it was not a hit at the movie screens but made its fame at a most unlikely source - the videotape rental service and the good old word of mouth. I will like to think that this film popularized itself into a modern classic because of the ordinary person watching this movie at the comfort of his home and came away so impressed and goes passing the word around about the film, to the extent that it now ranks #1 at the IMDB (Internet Movie Database) website, and surely in the hearts of those who have watched it, including mine.

This film is a prison movie that revolves around the two main actors - Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman who played the characters Andy Dufresne and 'Red'. It is a quiet movie with many themes of friendship, redemption, faith, morality, courage, corruption and hope. Most of the movie concentrated on the conversations between Andy and 'Red'. While i will not divulge much of the film here, i will strongly recommend for all to go watch the film from start to finish and find out for yourself, and hope that everyone will come away with your hearts touched by it.

On a personal level, this film has been a uplifting catalyst in many disappointing and down moments in my life before. I will replay many memorable scenes and quotes in my mind in the movie whenever i feel discouraged and it always worked for me. The consistent message of hope and never giving up hope throughout the movie just sets my heart alive. Coincidentally, this film seems to follow everywhere i go too. This film 'caught' me on the plane to India last year and most recently in China on a tour, it was played in the hotel tv during a late night.

Back to the music part, Shawshank Redemption's music soundtrack is also one of the best i have heard. Listen to the ending theme and watch a beautiful scene in the movie.

China witnessed one of the most devasting earthquakes this year which occurred on 12 May 2008 in Sichuan province. This powerful quake caused thousands of homes to be destroyed and thousands more lost their lives. On a recent study trip to China in November, i had the chance to visit the earthquake zone, witnessing at first hand the devastation caused - schools, buildings razed to the ground. Scores of banners were everywhere, encouraging the affected people whose homes were destroyed. My heart felt heavy walking through but more than anything, i also saw hope and the strength of the human spirit in the people who were rebuilding their homeland. Left with nothing but only hope in their hearts and it is this hope that will help them overcome in the end, much like anyone of us at some difficult point in our lives. I was reminded of a line Andy Dufresne says somewhere in the movie : "There are places in the world that aren't made out of stone, there is something inside that they can't get to you, they can't touch. It is yours - Hope"

Fear can hold you prisoner but hope can set you free. That's damn right...


"Get busy living or get busy dying..."

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies..."

- Andy Dufresne














Visit to Sichuan Earthquake Museum in Chengdu. The poignant banner on the ceiling written by affected villagers reads in chinese - 'Bless good people a lifetime of peace'