The Pride of Pushpa or the Humility of Jesus?

Pushpa: The Rise is a blockbuster movie that was recently released in five major languages across India. It has raked in tons of money and has won the hearts of the masses as well as film critics. Lead actor Allu Arjun’s dialogue “Thaggede Le” (in Hindi "Mai Jhukega Nahi") has become a viral catchphrase and the talk of the town. Such is the virality that even those who haven't watched the movie have become familiar with this slogan. However, this movie is a brazen glorification and celebration of a man’s ego. Period!

“Thaggede Le” means “I am not going to stoop down” or “I am not going to humble myself”. It is being as stubborn as a mule, ambitiously bent on elevating and fulfilling what one wants. Contrarily, the Lord Jesus taught, “Thaggala” (humble yourself). He said in Luke 14:11, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself (thaggin̄chukonuvaaḍu) will be exalted”. Elsewhere in 1 Peter 5:5, it is written, “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Christ not only taught humility, He modeled it as well. He demonstrated it when He washed His disciples’ feet, even of the one who betrayed Him (John 13:1-11). His humility is seen in Philippians 2:7 - “He, though being in the form of God, emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men”. His humility was manifested when He stooped down and sacrificed His life on the cross for the sins of people; people who rebelled and rejected Him (Mark 10:45). Christ meekly asserted about Himself in Mathew 11:29, “I am gentle and humble in heart”. All of this stands in stark contrast to the carnal machismo, narcissism, arrogance, and pride displayed by the character Pushpa.

Where there is pride, there will be disorder, quarrel, and every vile practice. Isn’t this what we witness in our society? But where there is humility, there is peace, happiness, and every good work (see James 3:13-18). What transforms our depraved society is the gentle and humble Christ, not characters like Pushpa. Let’s celebrate humility and not pride! Let’s walk in humility (“manam thaggala”) by looking at the gentle and humble Christ.

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