Is This Really Life? Birds Seem Better Off, Says Director Puri Jagannadh
Renowned filmmaker Puri Jagannadh, known for sharing thought-provoking insights through his video series “Puri Musings,” has sparked curiosity with his latest commentary on human life.
In his video titled “Lodge,” Puri questions the fundamental nature of human existence, contrasting it with the seemingly carefree lives of other creatures.
Puri observed that while billions of living beings on Earth live freely, humans alone are burdened with the necessity to pay for everything. Highlighting the natural freedom of animals and birds, he remarked that a bird builds its nest wherever it chooses, a tree grows wherever it finds soil, and a whale roams the oceans without restrictions. Lions do not require passports to cross forests, and migratory birds travel across continents without the need for permits or guesthouses, he noted.
In stark contrast, humans need money for basic survival—be it food, shelter, or travel. The director questioned why humans must pay for everything on a planet gifted by nature.
He lamented that humanity has divided the world into nations, imposed boundaries, and created a payment system that has transformed the essence of life.
Puri poignantly remarked that humans do not own this planet but seem to be tenants in a “lodge,” paying rent in various forms.
He expressed regret that in the pursuit of money, people trade away precious moments of life, leaving little time for enjoyment, exploration, or even reflection.
According to Puri, the natural world, with its oceans, mountains, and forests, was given to humanity freely by the divine. Yet, humanity has distanced itself from these gifts, tied down by societal constructs like ownership and currency.
He argued that the advent of agriculture and the notion of settling down marked the beginning of humanity’s deviation from a free and harmonious existence.
Concluding his musings, Puri expressed a desire for a simpler, unencumbered life. He suggested that humanity could learn from birds, living without attachments or restrictions. “Were we born just to pay bills?” he asked, reflecting on the meaning of existence. Puri ended his video with an emotional plea, hoping that if there is a next life, he would not be reborn as a human.
