Lessons from 'Amaran': The True Cost of Freedom and the Power of Gratitude

 

On November 1, 2024, I watched Amaran, the biographical film on Major Mukund Varadarajan, the brave Indian Army officer posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra—India's highest peacetime gallantry award—for his extraordinary valor in a counter-terrorism operation in Shopian, Kashmir, on April 25, 2014.The film, starring Sivakarthikeyan as Major Mukund and Sai Pallavi as his wife Indhu Rebecca Varghese, is a restrained and heartfelt tribute—avoiding over-the-top exaggeration while capturing the essence of a soldier's life and sacrifices.What moved me most weren't the intense combat sequences, but the quiet, heart-wrenching moments of personal sacrifice:

• The wife and young daughter celebrating Major Mukund's birthday alone at home—cutting cake, bursting balloons—while he's unreachable on the front lines.
• After 18 months apart, a fleeting 30-minute reunion at the airport before he heads back to duty.

These scenes beautifully highlight the unspoken burdens borne by soldiers' families—the loneliness, the waiting, the stolen moments.Amaran is a reminder of the selfless honor of our soldiers: leaving families for months or years, risking everything to protect the nation. Major Mukund's story—of leading from the front, eliminating threats while prioritizing civilian safety—is one of raw courage and duty.Reflecting on this, I look at my own blessed life: seeing my family every day, sharing meals, routines, and moments. Yet, how often do I complain about trivial things—traffic jams, work stress, small inconveniences?It's a wake-up call. I'm ashamed of that pettiness, the selfishness in chasing more while forgetting what I already have.This film reinforces the practice I've been cultivating: counting my blessings daily. Gratitude isn't just positive thinking—it's a shield against ungratefulness, against the endless "wanting more."In a world where freedom feels ordinary, stories like Major Mukund's remind us it's bought with extraordinary sacrifice. Let's honor that by living gratefully—cherishing our families, our safety, our everyday moments.Salute to Major Mukund Varadarajan and all our soldiers. Amaran—truly immortal.What films or stories have sparked gratitude in you lately?