Speaking eyes
The eye has captured the imagination of artists, lyricists and movie makers.
A recent research article unfurled an incredible theory: the only feature that distinguished between a faultless mannequin and a human was the eye. Eyes were clearly a sign of life and vitality, however hard professionals worked to make dolls look like people. This revelation triggered off a host of optical reflections. The eye, black, brown, blue, green or otherwise is one organ that can seldom conceal tenderness, nervousness, love or animus, even if all other parts of the body conspire to lie. Clearly, eyes speak.
My mom, when in a nostalgic or particularly doting mood claims that my eyes were as focused as an adult’s when I was born and would shrewdly take everything in! I must admit one thing though — nobody is really ready to vouch for the veracity of this fact. My usually undemonstrative dad once wistfully remarked, “You have got your mama’s eyes, girl!”
The eye indisputably, has captured the imagination of artists, writers, lyricists, movie makers and even the laity. Those who have the good fortune of being called Meenakshi (she with the eyes of a fish), Sonakshi (the golden-eyed one), Mriganayani (the doe-eyed one) trigger much envy in me. Many Indian movies begin with a close shot of the leading lady’s peepers replete with oodles of eye-makeup (quite raccoon-like), thick false eyelashes and much plucked, darkened and manipulated with brows; which probably make the gentlemen sigh in admiration and the non-celluloid women feel that their eyes look much better-naturally.
Recently, I came across a Hispanic proverb which claimed — “Blue eyes say love me or I’ll die. Black eyes say love me or I’ll kill thee”, which had me seriously wonder why such desperate lethal qualities have been attributed to the poor black eye; possessed by majority of Indians and not guilty of any such transgressions!
Before the UPS was in vogue among the middle class, many an evening of power cut has been dedicated by my dad and me to singing the modified version of ‘Gori tore Naina’ (Goofy tore Naina) to our much male dog; the translation of which would roughly be “Gori or Goofy as in this case; thine eyes are beautifully dark and smoky, even sans Kaajal”. The canine would carry on with scratching or any other equally unsavoury activity, totally oblivious that lovely songs were being sung in his praise!
Poet-lyricist Gulzaar personifies the eye and attributes human intents, characteristics and motives to it in ‘Naina Thag Lenge’. Set in the backdrop of (mistaken) betrayal, the lyrics warn the listener not to listen to the eyes because they cheat, sting venomously, deprive one of sleep and sanity among other things.
Thus, there is adequate evidence that eyes indeed do speak. It is for good reason that Lord Byron had said, “…And all that’s best of dark and bright. Meet in the aspect of her eyes...”
