Watchlist for a spiritual start to the New Year

Begin your New Year with these outstanding feature films that pack in lessons from some of the world’s greatest philosophies and convey spiritual themes in the most subtle and simple way. It’s no surprise that a lot of the movies belong to the science fiction genre; establishing the melting pot of science and spirituality found in movies. Take away profound learnings with a dose of entertainment, these are movies for when your soul needs renewed inspiration.

Avatar, 2009

After depleting the Earth of its natural resources, humans discover a valuable mineral on the densely forested habitable moon of Pandora. Life on Pandora is different from that followed by humans which led to their severe energy crisis. Inhabited by the Na’vi tribe, these blue-skinned sapient humanoids live in harmony with nature and respect for all its creations. The tribe’s beliefs and traditions, which form the core of the movie, focus on the essence of life itself and the oneness within every living thing from plants and animals to tiny micro-organisms. Although fictional and set in the future, Avatar makes one reflect on the human condition of indulging in greed and self-centred motives. The Na’vis express love with the phrase ‘I see you’, a way of conveying that they accept the other as they are, becoming a reminder for humans on the very meaning of love.

The Matrix Trilogy, 
1999-2003

The Matrix series has at its heart the concept that the world is an illusion. ‘Maya’ or illusion is a philosophy found in several sacred scriptures. It explains how humans, with their limited insight, are unable to see the ‘real’ world and are stuck in the ‘unreal’ world of illusion. Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, has a consistent inner knowing that something is not right with the world he lives in. This knowing is referred to as ‘intuition’ by many beliefs. Like scriptures talk about humans fighting their intuition out of ignorance, even Neo finds it tough to believe that the world is in fact an illusion. Like many faiths, the movie highlights the significance of a mentor to guide one in this battle. The series follows Neo’s journey from being captivated in the world of illusion to breaking free and accessing higher powers.

Star Wars Saga, 1977-2015

This cult series has much more to it than meets the eye. On the surface it may seem like a story about good versus evil but it also talks about the conflict between the need for power and standing for what is right. The concept of ‘The Force’ throughout the film is understood as ‘an energy field accessible and binding to all living beings in the universe’. This field of energy is neither good nor bad and anybody with enough training can have access to its power. Without getting into the confusing territory of morality, the series consistently portrays that the decision to do good or bad ultimately lies in the hands of the person who wields the power. 

Harry Potter series, 
2001-2011

Often mistaken as a series for children, the Harry Potter movies pack in several truths about life. Love is the magic that triumphs over all evil and dark forces shine throughout the series. ‘The choices we make determine our life’ is the core message that the movie conveys. It also emphasises that the most important decision is often between doing the easy thing and the right thing. Triumph of good over evil, bravery, love, friendship and loyalty are the values recurring in the series.

The Pursuit of Happyness, 2006

This story of a father and son, trying to make their way through a financial crisis, is one that many will relate to. In the current social and economic condition, when several people are beginning to question fundamentals of the human experience, this movie helps one understand what happiness really means. Chris Gardner, played by Will Smith, observes from his experiences that everybody is simply pursuing happiness while forever remaining elusive to the emotion. Towards the end, Gardner finally finds himself feeling genuinely happy. The movie leaves one with the feel-good conclusion that it’s this very pursuit of happiness that is the purpose of life and motivates one to keep moving forward.

Inside Out, 2015

Inside Out may seem like just another animated movie for children, but it is one of the best insights into the complex world of human emotions. It throws light on the co-existence of emotions such as joy, anger, fear and disgust in every individual and how an interplay between them prompts us to make decisions. Responses to events and the emotions felt at the time vary from person to person and even within the same person, varies depending on the time and situation. If we reflect enough, we learn that each emotion teaches us something or helps us in some way. The movie leaves one with the understanding of how all emotions, whether good or bad, are essential to our life.

Interstellar, 2014

This futuristic movie may seem like a work of science fiction at first but it also encapsulates several concepts based in ancient Indian philosophy. Throughout the movie, Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, talks about ‘they’ helping to create a wormhole to save mankind. Towards the end, he concludes that it was ‘us’ who actually helped. This is directly indicative of the ‘one mind’ that several philosophers have spoken about. Cooper finds himself in a multi-dimensional realm, beyond the bounds of time and space, where he has access to all perspectives including the past. This relates to the Vedic concept of Indra’s net, found in the Atharva Veda, which signifies the interconnectedness and interdependency of all existence.

Lucy, 2014

For a long time, ancient traditions and religions have explored the potential of humans beyond what we know. Lucy is a woman who can access every part of her brain, letting her gain knowledge that is beyond the reach of average human capacity. The message is that despite our diversity, all of us originate from the same cell and are essentially made of the same substance. Many religions have professed philosophies that are in line with the concept of a supreme ‘oneness’. Owing to this basic commonality, the movie highlights the significance of sharing as one of the most important values for humans.

Bruce Almighty, 2003

With great power comes great responsibility, is a phrase much cited but rarely understood. A forever complaining and unhappy Bruce is challenged by God himself to take matters in his own hands. Sick of life, Bruce, played by Jim Carrey, hates and abuses God. Enter Morgan Freeman, dressed in crisp white to represent a modern version of God. Intoxicated by his new-found powers, Bruce has a great time initially. However, his complete disregard towards the role of God soon leads to utter mayhem around the world. He’s shaken out of his stupor when he realises that being God is more than just a game of dice. The movie traces the development of Bruce’s new relationship with God as he learns that everything in fact happens for a reason.