The Darjeeling Limited

The Darjeeling Limited is a comedy drama directed by Wes Anderson which encompasses everything quintessentially Indian with a foreign twist. Whimsical, funny and quirky, the movie captures everything that is India – Organised Chaos. The plot revolves around three brothers – each suffering from depression – who meet for a train trip across India a year after the accidental death of their father. Planned by the eldest brother, the final stop on the itinerary is a somewhat disturbing surprise for his siblings. Set against the backdrop of the picturesque and historical towns of Jodhpur and Udaipur, their journey sees them not only mingling with the locals, but experiencing each place as natives. Elephant motifs on the train, Classical Indian music playing in the background, a bus ride, visit to a temple, a funeral in a village, meditation and a hilltop ritual recommended by a Guru are some of the captivating glimpses into the western take on the paradoxes of this country. The camera beautifully captures the essence of India ranging from the diversity of landscape, people, beliefs and customs. A recommended watch to get to know a teensy bit about this part of the world, aptly recognised as the land of many contradictions and organised chaos.