Hawa, hawa!

Why do we like what we like?

Because it strikes a chord deep within us…

Perhaps this is why I have always loved the song “Hawa, hawa!” (Wind, wind!) from the film Rockstar ever since it released way back in 2011. The music, the lyrics, the setting, the shooting, the dancing… everything about the song is par excellence.

In case you are not familiar with the song, simply imagine: Picturesque plazas in Prague bustling with people. Vibrant music. A local troupe enacting an age-old fairytale. Young flamenco dancers turning and twirling. Drawn by the sounds, our protagonist, an aspiring musician from India, joins in with his guitar, and in his unique bohemian style, begins narrating the mysterious tale of an errant Queen who disappears at night and wears off twelve pairs of shoes every night! Soon the heroine in the film joins in in the merrymaking, and we are treated to a colorful gala amidst the timeless beauty of Prague!

The pure energy and youthful exuberance of the song are infectious. But it is the story in the song that appeals to me even more.

Adapted (and changed considerably) from the original German legend of ‘The Twelve Dancing Princesses’ compiled by Brothers Grimm, the song recounts the agonizing despair of a young Queen as she yearns to break free from a life stifled by societal norms and pleads with the King to take away all her riches in exchange of a carefree existence filled with joyous love.

Woven beautifully into the narrative of the film, the song befittingly conveys the emotional turmoil of the heroine who rebels against her loveless marriage and desires the tempestuous thrill of unbridled passion with her lover. The song refrain: Hawa, hawa! (Wind, wind!) is her cry for freedom.

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Personally, trying to understand why this song resonates with me is part of my quest to find my Self and define my own unique purpose in life.

“Hawa, hawa!” is a call for me to delve into the depths of my inner Self and reflect on my values, my beliefs, my passions… so that I can wash away years of conditioning and discover the real Me.

Because unless I know myself, how can I flow freely like the Wind? Unless I embrace my true nature, how can I express myself fully? Unless I follow my own path, how can I experience true joy in life?

Well, what do YOU think?

PS:

Link to the song Hawa, hawa!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQryki2ZhYA

Link to the story The Twelve Dancing Princesses: https://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/TwelDanc.shtml