When the silence and loneliness surround you, they get on your nerves. You start talking to yourself, acting to yourself (as I am the lone audience), or you endlessly scroll through your phone or YouTube. Yesterday, I came across “Despicable Me,” which is an animated film series primarily known for its entertainment value and humour. As I watched the movie, I saw it more as a source for serious lessons about student life and relationships than humour. But mind you, I do not watch movies for educational purposes, especially Hindi movies; they’re just for entertainment (I am referring to blockbuster ones). However, there are a few themes and elements in the movies that could be interpreted as relevant to these topics:
- Value of Teamwork and Collaboration: The main character, Gru, often works with his minions and adopts three girls, which shows how teamwork and collaboration can lead to achieving goals. This can be related to student life, where working in groups and cooperating with others is crucial for success. In this particular scene from “Despicable Me,” Gru and his army of minions work together to free the three girls that Vector, his arch-enemy, has imprisoned. Despite facing numerous obstacles, Gru leads his minions with ingenuity and determination. Each minion contributes unique abilities to overcome challenges, demonstrating resourcefulness and resilience. The scene highlights the bond between Gru and the Minions, emphasizing teamwork, unity, and trust in achieving their goal. With their collective efforts, they successfully rescue the girls and defeat Vector. This scene underscores the importance of collaboration and showcases the strength of a team working towards a common objective.
- Importance of Relationships and Family: Gru’s relationship with his adopted daughters highlights the importance of family and the strong bonds that can develop in non-traditional family structures. This can be applied to understanding the value of relationships for personal growth.
- Growth and Change: Gru’s character development throughout the series, from a villain to a loving father, can be seen as a metaphor for personal growth. This is relevant for students in a phase of life where they are discovering themselves and learning to change for the better.
- Balancing Personal Ambitions and Relationships: Gru’s struggle to balance his career ambitions with his responsibilities as a father can be related to students learning to balance their academic, personal, and social lives. In this particular scene, Gru is torn between his desire to carry out a major heist and his responsibilities as a father to the three little orphaned girls he has adopted. It symbolizes the clash between his former wicked self and the emerging paternal instincts within him. The scene highlights the difficulty of balancing personal ambitions with the love and care required to nurture a family. Gru’s character transformation throughout the movie reflects the importance of priorities and the power of love in shaping our choices and actions.
- Adaptability and Learning from Mistakes: The characters in “Despicable Me” often find themselves in unpredictable and hilarious situations. They must adapt quickly. This is a valuable lesson for students, as it teaches the importance of being flexible and learning from mistakes.
“Despicable Me” is an animated film series. They teach valuable lessons about life and relationships (both family and workplace). The main character, Gru, demonstrates the importance of teamwork and collaboration in achieving goals. The film also emphasizes the value of growth and change, balancing personal ambitions and relationships, and adaptability. The characters’ journey from villain to loving father exemplifies the power of love and adaptability in shaping our choices and actions.
Thinking Out Loud 