The globally popular film The Lion King is captivating audiences all over and has set the box office cash registers ringing handsomely. The latest edition released in 2019 is a remake of the animated version. Audiences in India have also been bowled over. The film has been dubbed in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu as well.
The Plot
The film has a simple plot where the good ultimately conquers the vile and corrupt but it is the exquisite storytelling which wins the hearts of the audience every time. Simba (a lion cub) is an adorable kid growing up under the wings of his family in the jungle which serves as a kingdom. His father Mufasa, is head of the lion clan and is a popular leader. He respects the laws of the nature and life straddles with peace and merriment at the disposal of every living creature in the kingdom.
The jungle has its own set of laws and boundaries which no one dares to cross for mutually beneficial reasons. In this way, the future looks bright as hopes are pinned on Simba to grow into a thoughtful leader who would one day lead his clan and the jungle. He is regularly counseled on the duties of a king and the dangers which lurk in life and in the jungle by his father. With playful abandon, Simba listens to some while he cannot make sense of few other philosophy-laden teachings. His childhood sweetheart Nala gives him memorable and guileless company.
Things turn bad as his uncle, Scar, wishing to upturn the seat of power, plots with a pack of hyenas led by Shenzi to capture power and Mufasa pays with his life in an unanticipated turn of events.
Life turns tragic as Scar enters into an unholy pact with the hyenas to share power and the spoils of hunt. Scar attempts to win over Sarabi (Simba’s mother) and the other members of the lion clan but faces resistance. He reverses the law of the jungle by extending the first right to hyenas on the feasting of a kill.
Simba meanwhile, finds company in another beautiful corner of the jungle far away and makes new friends and goes by the dictum of Hakuna Matata, meaning ‘no worries!’ He grows up fast unaware of the reign of terror unleashed by Scar. Nala in a chance encounter re-unites with Simba and pokes his conscience to save the jungle and lion clan from the vile clutches of Scar and the ravenous pack of hyenas.
Simba initially refuses but eventually decides to fight for restoring order and justice after being reminded of his destiny by Rafiki. Simba has his own team now. His team comprises of Timon (a meerkat), Pumba (a warthog), Zazu(a hornbill), Rafiki and of course, Nala. With the help of other members of the clan, he secures his claim to the seat of king after defeating Scar in an emotionally charged battle. Scar meets his nemesis at the hands of the hyena-pack.
The story is well-intentioned and has life lessons not just for kids among whom the franchise is very popular across the world but also for adults of every age. The story tugs at your heart with the simplicity of narration and evocation of grand virtues. Five vital life lessons in my opinion which The Lion King succeeds in conveying are:
1) Never Misuse Or Abuse Power
Scar, uncle to the main protagonist Simba, disturbed the delicate balance of life and nature. He comes across as an egotist and power-hungry lion in the film who believes in hatching conspiracies. He adopts vile methods to capture power and ultimately drowns in his own hubris.
In life also, it is important for us not to misuse the power which we may possess by virtue of occupying certain office or position. What goes around comes around. Power deceives and many kings have lost their rule because of its beguiling charm. Notably, Nero, fifth Roman emperor wasted himself in extravagances and debauchery sidelining the welfare of the people. He even gave currency to the saying, “When Rome was burning, Nero was busy fiddling.”
Even in modern-day history, several tyrant leaders like Adolf Hitler and Idi Amin have fallen prey to this tendency. So, better watch out for the temptations which power brings along.
2) Stay Alive And Keep Moving
Every individual goes through the roughs and tumbles of life. For some, the tests of life may be arduous and painful while others may have it easy. Soothsayers also fail to accurately predict the outcome of human actions. However, if an individual stops after facing failure, rejection or tragedy, they embrace death. To put it simply, their inner being will be taken over by grief and sadness and these will give a death blow to their survival.
Instead, one should nurture the survival instinct in the event of a tragedy. One should just keep moving as with time, one will gain the adequate strength to overcome the challenges of life and achieve seemingly impossible feats. Time is a great healer, so Simba advised by Pumba. In order to mark a comeback, one needs to stay alive in the first place. Sometimes, a leader has to wait for the opportune moment to find their rightful place under the sun.
History is replete with examples of comeback stories. Nelson Mandela kept his spirits alive while in jail for 27 years. He was later elected as first President of South Africa in a fully representative democratic election. Reportedly, he kept a scrap of paper in his cell in which were written words of a poem by William Ernest Henley, titled Invictus. It ends with the famous lines, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”
Simba, too was taken over by despondency after losing his father but he kept moving and finally came around as a promising leader. So, stay alive and keep moving, folks!
3) Always Listen To Your Inner Voice While Facing Adversity
At times when the going gets tough, one needs to listen to the inner voice and find calm and peace within oneself to fight on. One may listen to the well meaning advice of a mendicant to collect oneself. Our inner being is like a walnut, tough on the outside but soft in the interior. It is important to keep the soft interior fresh and vitalized to take on the challenges of life.
Prominent personalities, in history have heeded the voice of their inner being and have found revitalized energy to surmount heavy odds stacked against them. On January 10–11, 49 BCE, Julius Caesar led his troops across the little river Rubicon, the boundary between his province of Cisalpine Gaul and Italy proper. This act on his part led him into a direct conflict with senate, a powerful body in Rome. But he went on to establish a strong Roman Empire. He heard his inner voice and once he decided to bear the gauntlet, there was no turning back. His moment of “Crossing the Rubicon” has acquired the status of a much celebrated idiom in English language lexicology.
One’s inner being may be in conflict, at times. It is important to keep quizzing oneself and resolve the knots of the heart. Simba keeps quizzing his own thought process and the course of life. He is nudged by Rafiki to listen to the voice of his conscience or inner being for performing the great duty of preserving the forest. Simba looks up at the stars and recalls the words said by his father, “Remember who you are.” So, listen to your heart and stay close to your soul.
4) Have Faith In Teamwork
Individuals who pose trust in their team and do not let them down, are capable of battling great odds in the toughest of circumstances. Teamwork is behind many of the corporate success stories. Often, teamwork is also behind the fate of a political or social movement. In 1973, the women of Chamoli district (then Uttar Pradesh) resisted tree hacking by hugging the trees. The movement is an example of massive mobilization of women for a cause and is an epitome of commendable team work.
Several successful business ideas like those of social media and innovative industry disruptors which find echoes in corporate success stories believed in teamwork.
Simba made it work with his ragtag band of followers and admirers. Other members of the lion clan joined his campaign, once he announced his arrival. With teamwork at play, the evil rule of Scar was ultimately yanked off.
5) Face Challenges Head On
Once you have seen the ray of hope for restoring justice and securing a victory on the horizon, then, face the challenge upfront. Fight on, battle hard and even get bloodied along the way. Take it all in. Challenges can overwhelm a person in the beginning but with persistence and bravery, a challenge remains no challenge.
To a great extent, Bezwada Wilson (a noted crusader against manual scavenging in India) represents a story of sheer doggedness in pursuing a cause of social justice. He is battling entrenched societal prejudices to campaign against manual scavenging. He exemplifies the act of taking on the challenges upfront. Several other examples are abound here.
The relevant thing is to face the challenge upfront. Simba fights Scar and the shrewd pack of hyenas. In the process, he gets dirty and bloody but eventually prevails.
Overall, the action packed adventure of The Lion King has something for everyone. You may be troubled, confused, devastated or plain down in the dumps. The Lion King is there to rescue you, lift up your spirits and resurrect you once again. The film always succeeds in striking the right notes. So, sing along! Hakuna Matata!