Ved from Tamasha: The embodiment of every INFP

Introduction

I recall reading my MBTI report in excitement. As I began to navigate the different sections of my personality, I froze in my tracks. How was it that by answering a few questions, a website revealed the aspects of my personality that I rarely shared with the people around me? When I began to read about my personality type(INFJ) it made me ponder whether the 16 personalities can manifest themselves on the big screen. Like Ved from Tamasha.

Is that why Bollywood film lovers regularly saw themselves in certain characters? Because the characters exhibited traits similar to their own? Are these qualities present in the 16 personalities? With this thought in mind, I began to watch one movie, which I felt showcased the hidden side of my personality that I was not used to showing people. That movie was Tamasha. With a talent for speaking in numerous parables and metaphors, and an imagination that never switched off, these were two of many qualities that described Ved as the true representation of an INFP. 

Imtiaz Ali has been my favorite storyteller for as long as I can remember. The magic of his cinema struck my heartstrings. The aspects and vulnerability of Ved Vardhan Sahni (played by Ranbir Kapoor) reflected aspects of my personality that I had hidden from people for so long. I knew the path I was on was not the path for me, but rather a path the people around me wanted and naturally expected out of a quiet, introverted person. However, what were the aspects of Kapoor’s character in  Tamasha that made me conclude him as the representation of every INFP I had ever come across? For this, we will need to break down what INFP stands for. 

I for Introverted

 If I had to sum up Ved’s character in a phrase, it would be a gifted storyteller. Ved bowed down to his bosses and subordinates when being yelled at, which made my heart go out. However, the most compelling events in the movie were diving into his imagination. Ved was more fascinated by the worlds and stories he made up in his head. He loved to sit under a tree to listen to an older man tell him the iconic Laila Majnu stories and eventually bring like-minded individuals under his own tree to bring his wild creations into life.

Ved was a loyal lover and partner to Tara(played by Deepika) but sadly got rejected, as Tara knew Ved is not the average human who wears and carries the same suit and briefcase to work. To cope with the loss of the person he loved the most, he didn’t seek comfort in his friends and family but in a mental escape provided by his fantastic fairy tales. 

N for Intuition

From his cruel bosses to his elementary school teacher playing characters in his head, Ved lived in a world where almost any story was possible, with no boundaries set by societal norms. Ved eventually sits down to tell his parents the story of his journey so far. He questioned if everyone could pursue dreams without being labeled as a misfit. What changes could we bring to the world? Or what if the average human broke free from mundane routines and abiding by it for their entire life? This visionary perspective brought by Ved’s character showcased his intuition and his Feeling personality trait, which we look at next.

 

Let’s also not forget that Ved was a curious soul throughout the film. He wanted to learn about other cultures and races and how they lived their life. We can say it was the sole reason he traveled to Corsica: to discover and understand other people’s lifestyles. Yet ironically, he ended up finding himself. 

F for Feeling

As dangerous as he seemed to office goers and bosses, Ved was a lover of nature. He loved to put his head in the sea, talk to mountains, and wanted every moment to be a Tamasha(spectacle) indeed. Growing up with a tiger parent father who wanted him to study engineering like the millions of other kids, was the primary source of inspiration for all the stories he was cooking up in his head.

Moreover, Ved was brainwashed by his father to believe that good grades and a prestigious degree guaranteed a sufficient lifestyle. Yet in his heart, there was an apparent discord as he did not fit in with computers and presentations but street shows and theatre. Like any creative artist, we hate the divides and ideologies the education system and culture impart on us. After losing his job, friends, and lover, Ved’s art and storytelling was the only medium where he could understand his deep and complex emotions. 

P for Prospecting

What irritated me in the film was how every story between Ved and the storyteller remained unfinished. However, it reminded me of the scene in the climax of the film , where Ved visits the storyteller. It seemed every story we saw as incomplete was because Ved did not know what was going to happen in his. Why would you ask another person about your story? As the sole hero, you are in charge of your own life’s script

Ved was extraordinarily motivated and idealistic like all INFP’s are. However, he was extremely prone to distraction as he lived more in his imagination than he did in reality. As with any talented person, Ved’s gift of creativity sometimes became his biggest enemy. 

Conclusion

Tamasha will be the movie closest to my heart. It told the story of every South Asian kid growing up in a society where pursuing dreams out of the ordinary was foolish. Yet the film Tamasha applies to people from all walks of life. If you are a college student, teacher, or about to retire, never be the victim of a mundane, boring routine. You will know your routine is mundane when everything seems to be mechanical. When everything is automatic, we become Ved: speaking like a corporate robot in front of your mirror for the rest of your life. 

The answer is yes. You can change your life story no matter where you are. Because you are the actor, producer, writer, and director of your story, and as the lead role in your film, make sure your character derives positive outcomes from every situation. So what are we waiting for? Let’s write the best script for our life as possible! Because sometimes we realize the character we play is not really who we are.