Water Bodies, Intimacy and Bollywood

A few weeks before her wedding, a friend of mine visited her doctor for a regular health checkup. Knowing the naivete of many young women in the field of intimacy, and sensing my friend's hesitation in asking for details, the doctor sat her down for pre-marital counseling. 

 
A very interesting point that stemmed from this discussion was how to get comfortable with your spouse before you get intimate. 


One of the ways the doctor suggested was for the couple to go swimming together. 

What is it about water that arouses strong emotions within us? Our movies are replete with sari-clad women, prancing in the rain, coy, and ready to fall in love. The morning after often shows the hero singing love ballads and the heroine all a-blush. Sridevi's raincoat-sporting act in Chaalbaaz and her Kaate Nahi Katte comes to mind.

In a more playful mood, they ladies push their Romeos into the swimming pool. Remember Madhuri's shove in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?

Newer movies have replaced monsoons with beaches. Deepika Padukone and the younger generation of stars may be bikini babes, but the backdrop of water remains the same.

 



And a million meaningful conversations happen by the sea. Remember the three protagonists on a boys-only trip in Dil Chahta Hai? Their profound discussion on friendship and life took place not during a sleepover at Akash’s but near the sea in Goa.

Which brings me to another bachelor trip. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara saw Hrithik and Katrina’s characters fall in love during scuba diving lessons.

Coming back to my original question – what is it about water that arouses such strong emotions? 

A force of nature – sometimes calm, sometimes chaotic; river and sea; rain and steam and snow… Conversation and conflict; friendship and love; contemplation and harmony… Fun and free; lost and mourning; alive and awesome…

Be it swimming for intimacy or having meaningful conversations by the ocean, water presents an invitation to experience life's little adventures.  Think about that on your next solitary walk by the sea!