Death

In the first K drama that I saw was ‘The Marriage Contract’ where Uee is terminally ill. She enters the contract to give her child a home. In the end her husband comes to know. Nothing can be done. He gets attached to her & her daughter. They visit a garden full of flowers. She is lightly touching the tulips, smiling, holding hands. No death bed or death in a hospital with copious tears. I really liked it.

I have often seen Hindi or Marathi films having elaborate dying scenes that make you cringe. I mean can’t we be subtle?? In “Milli” Ashok Kumar is waving his hand to a plane in the skies, bidding farewell to his daughter with terminal illness. He knows he will never see her again.

In “Anand’ Rajesh Khanna is on the death bed when Amitabh enters & has a long talk. But no reply. ‘Now, why are you quiet? Say something!’ The tape starts whirling & their talk previously recorded is heard.

The photograph of the dead person is garlanded & people in white visit the mourning family members. Flowers is a prerequisite in Korean Dramas. The photograph is surrounded by many flowers. The family wears black. Black suits & a white band on the arm. Ladies have black hanbok & a white pin in their hair. There is food & drinks for the mourners.

The space saved in a wall where along with the photograph some chosen articles are placed. Rent is paid annually by the kin. Also annual memory service is conducted. The food liked by the deceased is made & an offering made. Sometimes the Buddhist temple is visited on occasions. As the faith dictates.

Right from birth till death, rituals are performed at every step. We call them ‘sanskar’ or the rites to be performed. It is a way of life. We don’t bring anything nor do we take away anything back but our journey here is scheduled. It goes from step to step. We progress.