Outsourced

Okay, so the woman at the rental store was right (see last posting below). Outsourced was exactly what I needed last night- it's not too heavy but still has a good storyline and includes a little bit of humour and romance.

In this movie, the main character Todd gets outsourced from his job in Seattle and is sent to India. Though Todd does not want to go, he has worked for the company for so many years that he doesn't think there is another option. So, landing in Bombay, and then heading to Gara Puri(?), Todd sets out to train his replacement- Puro- and to teach Puro and the Indian workers at a call center about the U.S. "Basically, you need to learn more about America," he says at the outset of his presentation to the workers. He even goes so far as to attempt to change the Indian employees' accents. "Hold your nose when you say the word Chicaaago," he coaches them.

But after making what seem like inconsiderate comments towards the call center workers- for example, describing the process of branding cows (sacred to Indians) with hot irons- and not finding out what is actually important to the workers themselves, Todd is told by the sweet and smart Asha that he needs to learn more about India.

But how can he? The employees are not working up to par, Todd's phone gets pickpocketed many times over by a little Indian kid nearby, everyone mispronounces Todd's name and calls him Mr. Toad, and Todd can't seem to stomach the Indian food he is given. So when Todd sees an advertisement in the paper for McDonnell's, he pays for a ride all the way back to Bombay to get some real American food. But Todd is disappointed when the burger joint is nothing like the McDonald's he is familiar with. While he is there, however, another American man joins Todd for lunch and gives him some advice:

"I remember feeling like you do. I was resisting India, but once I gave in, I did much better."

Todd seems unaware of what this man means, until the day of Holi-"Celebration of colour, changing of seasons," explains Puro. Todd goes out into the streets wearing a clean shirt and dress pants unaware of what is in store for everyone that day. He gets covered in all kinds of coloured powder in a matter of minutes.

Though at first, he appears frustrated and ready to give up, he ends up throwing water bombs/balloons and balls of powder back at the Indians and joins in on the festivities. Soon, Todd is laughing and playing. And after, washing himself off in a lake, with many of the other Indians, Todd finally slows down to look around him. Despite the remnants of the red and blue powder all over his face and clothes, we finally see a smile and sense of peace radiating from Todd's face after he dips his head under the water and glides along the lake. Todd starts enjoying and appreciating his surroundings, rather than fighting against them.

And what beautiful surroundings they are. This movie created an even greater desire in me to go to India than I already thought I had. The rich, vibrant colours, the warm family values, the busy markets and stands, and the lively music and food- I felt like I could almost hear and smell them right near me. Or maybe I wanted to. The excitement of travel, of learning about a new culture, of sharing one's culture with another, kept me drawn to the movie.

And then of course, there is a little romance between the American white boy Todd, and the Indian Asha. And yes, it is a little cheesy the way the mango on Todd's face in the Kamasutra Hotel is what brings the two together in a kiss. But their cross cultural relationship, their openness to one another, and their ability to listen to one another, to learn from one another, is still sweet enough.

I think the relationship was just a way for both Todd and Asha to start fresh, to look at life from another perspective, and let go of the past that may have been holding them back. As Asha explains, Todd is like a bindhi, a third eye that helps you see more than you can when your two eyes are not enough. But Asha does the same or more for Todd as well.

Todd asks Asha why a particular Goddess, Kali hangs on Indian walls or adorns the dash boards of cars.

"Kali is the Goddess of Destruction," explains Asha. "Sometimes destruction can be good. She ends one cycle so that a new one can begin."

And Todd's experience in India destroys the past patterns of his life, and starts something anew for him- a new appreciation for the simple things in his life, and a new awareness of all the choices he actually has open to him.

And finally, Asha reminds Todd of the words he shared with her that changed her mindset: "Asha can do anything," he had said. And because of this, Asha finally truly believes it.

This movie, though predictable at times, is definitely an inspiring, fun and adventurous one. Thank you that helpful employee at the rental store for recommending it to me.