Wednesday, August 13, 2014

The Irony - A tribute to Robin Williams.

 So I am not easily star struck. I am not the one to mourn the death of every celebrity. Yes, maybe they were brilliant at what they did but I don't think I would gravely miss them in my life. Sure I hope that their souls rests in peace but its only a few celebrities you remember forever, only a few who touch your lives.


With his art, we all chose him to be a part of our world

Yesterday at 7AM, I woke up with my alarm ringing in my ear. I looked at the screen to put it on snooze and I had a notification of a friend's status update on facebook that read as "RIP, Robin Williams". Half asleep, I read it as "RIP, Robbie Williams" and fell back asleep thinking that the good singers are dying and we'll soon be left the crappy new generation "singers".

Anyway, after a while my soonzed alarm went off again, it was time to get out of bed, I started my day and finally when I found time I opened the news apps and facebook only to realise that it wasn't Robbie Williams but Robin Williams who had passed away. All of a sudden it felt like something was missing. I just couldn't figure out what it was. I googled the news about him and found out that it was a suicide. Again, I continued with my day, still feeling empty. I got back home and I read more about his death, I found out that he was suffering from depression and that moment it felt like some had punched me in my stomach. It was something that was hard for me to believe, all I could imagine was his crazy expressions and wide smile.

Now, why am I writing this post, you would wonder. He wasn't someone I knew personally, he wasn't related to me. So why is it that I feel obligated to write a post in his honour? Here is the reason why. That evening I was discussing with my friend about how I was sad to hear this news and how I grew up watching Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, Flubber, Alladin and so on, I talked about how Robin Williams had been a beloved star who always made everyone laugh. That is when this friend of mine told me that he had no idea who Robin Williams was because he had never seen a movie and mostly spent time either playing outside or reading. That was the moment I freaked out and I said "What kind of a childhood did you have without Robin Williams in it?!".


Seriously, how? Mrs. Doubtfire was the best!


I am in my early twenties and till today, Mrs. Doubtfire makes me laugh. I can't imagine a childhood without those movies, without the fantasy world of Jumanji or without loving the character of Genie who'd stand by Alladin and help him in all his adventures. Robin Williams gave me a childhood and memories of watching his movies with my family and laughing at the funny expressions he made. If I had to comment on his acting skills, I'd say I haven't seen a man as versatile as him and yes, his presence in my life will be missed because it wasn't like he was just a comedian, he was someone who inspired me, someone who would do different roles and ace them thus, teaching me excellence.

Wise and inspiring words. He was more than just an actor.

What makes this event sadder is the history of substance abuse and depression. It's funny how we think that that the person who makes people laugh for a living must be happy himself. This incident shows us just how ironic life is. This incident tells us that depression is a disease that not only kills, but affects even the people whose job it is to make everyone else laugh, affects people who are rich. It's a disease that needs to be treated. This incident shows us how such a disease lurks behind the widest smiles.

This got me,  I don't know what to say.
It makes me sad that there won't be more of the Robin Williams awesomeness in this world but the movies and shows he's left us, shall always remind us of his greatness , of his inspiring thoughts and the fact that the ability to make someone laugh is always in you, even though you are batteling with your own demons yourself. I write this post not only to wish that his soul rests in peace after the struggle with depression in his lifetime, I write this post to show my gratitude to someone who made my childhood amazing and who inspired me. He really convinced us that he was a happy man. I hope is his finally free and his soul is finally at peace. This is one of the saddest deaths in Hollywood and all that I have is a childish hope that he isn't dead but waiting for someone to roll a 5 or an 8 so that he can get back from the jungle.


RIP, Mr. Williams. May you finally get the peace that you were struggling for.