Picture Copyright: Disney Pixar

Inside Out – An English film directed by Peter Docter
Venue: Wave, Raja Garden
Date: 2 July 2015

Counselling among the common Indian populace is a new phenomenon. We are yet to come to terms with the fact that like the body, the mind needs occasional therapy. But for the few who  opt for counselling swear by its efficacy as to how this has helped them regain their grip over life.

Many a people may have cringed every time they heard their counselors say “Happiness is an attitude”.  On scratching the surface one realizes that while happiness means different things to different people, trying to be joyous all the time is crazy.

The animation film Inside Out tells us just that. It is an insight into the feelings of an eleven year old girl Riley. The feelings belong to an eleven year old, so they  are simple – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust.  They interact with each other to keep Riley up and running. In fact, Joy is super obsessed about keeping Riley happy at all times. To this end, she pushes Sadness away since who wants to be sad! However, over a period of time Joy realizes that all the feelings are significant for personal growth and Sadness ; vulnerability etc. have their own important roles to play. Crux – feeling sad is healthy and normal and human and just all right.

Narrated in a super simplified style, the  film has an amazingly subtle but powerful language that operates at different levels for the young and the old. Just like all Disney films they have kept virtues like love, friendship and family values at the core of the film. It is one of those Hollywood beauties that choose the brain than the brawn. Without giving more of the story away, all we want to say is that through excellent animation and a pleasant sound track, it helps to drive in some home truths to the viewers.

The main feature is preceded by a short animation ‘Lava’ about..hmm..any guesses?