Que Sera, Sera

An English film song clip is circulating repeatedly on WhatsApp during the last one week. In popular language of today's times, it has gone viral. The song in question is "Que Sera, Sera", a song from the 1956 Hollywood English mystery thriller film "The Man Who Knew Too Much", produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Sung and acted in the film by the famous singing actress of yesteryears, Doris Day, it runs like this:

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother what I will be
Will I be pretty?, Will I be rich?
Here's what she said to me:

Que Sera, Sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future is not ours to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be!

The song continues in two more stanzas. The little girl grows up and asks her sweetheart the same question when she fell in love. She gets the same answer. Some years after her marriage, her son asks her the same question. Of course, her answer now will be the same!

The Youtube link to the song is given at the end of this blog post, for you to click on it and listen.

When we dwell upon the theme of the song in the Indian context, it makes very interesting reading indeed, as we see below.

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Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) is known for his suspense thrillers. There is hardly anyone who has not seen his movies. His film career covered a large span of time, covering early silent films, black and white film times to modren times. He has directed over 50 films. He also was host of the popular television shows like "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "Alfred Hitchcock Hour", which are seen even today worldwide. 

Hitchcock's suspense was basically derived from the light and sound effects, even when there was not much horror scenes on the screen. The tension would build in the mind of the viewer, not due to what he saw but what he perceived. He was knighted and later became Sir Alfred Hitchcock. 

Hitchcock first produced and directed the movie "The man who knew too much" in the year 1934. More than twenty years later, he remade the film with some modifications, but the same name in 1956. James Stewart and Doris Day played the lead roles in the 1956 film that has this song, which has now gone viral.

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During the years when sound recording and background music and singing integration had not yet reached the perfect levels, singing artistes were in great demand and very popular. There were many stalwarts in Hollywood and other parts of the world as well, who were great singers in their own right, who did very well as film artistes. Artistes like Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley and Barbara Streisand are some such names. Doris Day is another such illustrious name and she was on the screen some ten years before another similar artiste, Julie Andrews of Sound of Music fame. 

In India also, we had our own great singing artistes. In North India, we had Kundan Lal Saigal, Pankaj Mallick, Suraiyya, Noor Jehan and others. Kishore Kumar was active for a long time and till much later times. In South India we had the legendary M K Thyagaraja Bhagavatar, P Bhanumati (later Bhanumati Ramakrishna) and many others. In Kannada, Honnappa Bhagavatar was one such well known name. There were many others as well, who had short stints. 

Doris Day (1922-2019) had her great singing career as well as appearance in films on either side of World War II. She won innumerable awards in her long career and lived a full life of 97 years. This song Que Sera Sera won the Oscar for "Best Original Song". She was also honoured with an Oscar for her Life time achievements. 

Her star can be seen on "Hollywood Walk of Fame" in Los Angeles, USA. In "The Butchart Gardens" in Victoria Island, Canada (near Vancouver), a special rose plant is dedicated to Doris Day. 

Doris played the role of Josephine Conway McKenna (Jo Conway) in the film "The man who knew too much" opposite James Stewart, who played as husband Dr Benjamin McKenna (Ben McKenna). The song was used twice in the movie, the second time to help trace their kidnapped son Hank. 

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What is the origin of the phrase "Que Sera, Sera"? some sources say it is Spanish while some others say it is Italian. Some say it is a hybrid term. It is not an English phrase. But it is used to mean "Whatever will be, will be" in English. What is its equivalent for us? If we look to Sanskrit, it translates to "भवितव्यम् भवत्येव" (Bhavitavyam Bhavatyeva). In essence, it means "Future is not in your control. Don't worry about. Whatever is to happen, it will happen".

Where can we find this term in our literature? There is a Subashita in "Maha Subhashita Sangraha" (Shloka 4,901), which in turn has been picked up from "Samskrita Sookti Ratnakara", compiled by Sri Ramji Upadhyaya. It reads thus:

आपत्सु किं विषादेन सम्पत्तौ विस्मयेन किम् 

भवितव्यं भवत्येव कर्मणामेष निश्चयः 

Aapatsu kim vishadena sampattou vismayena kim

Bhavitavyam bhavatyeva karmanamesha nischayaha 

"Why feel sad in adversity and elated in times of affluence? Whatever is to happen, will happen! It is decided by previous karma. Do your duty and leave the rest to the future".

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The roots for this Subhashita can be found in Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Shloka 12.219.10. This is the part in which Bheeshma, while lying on the bed of arrows, condenses his lifetime acquired knowledge and teaches Yudhishtira, as per the instructions of Krishna. 

It reads thus:

यथा यथास्य प्राप्तव्यं प्रप्नेत्यैव तथा तथा 
भवितव्यं यथा यच्च भवत्येव तथा तथा 

Yathaa yathaachha praptavyam prapnetyaiva tathaa tathaa
bhavitavyam yathaa yaccha bhavatyeva tathaa tathaa  

"Just as one is destined to obtain something, one obtains it precisely in that manner. And whatever is destined to occur, it occurs precisely in that manner"

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Que Sera, Sera is not new to us. It is a teaching that is several thousand years old. As the future is not in our control, it is not something to be worried about. Do your duty and leave the rest to future itself. This is not just a lesson. it is our philosophy of life!

The song "Que Sera Sera" can be heard by clicking on the video given below:

The Wise Believe They Are Immortal

Cambridge English Dictionary defines "NEET" as "Not in Education, Employment or Training" and denotes a youth who has completed his education, but is not engaged in any activity or is unemployed. It appears this was the usage by the UK government in the 1980s. But in India, NEET means "National Eligibility cum Entrance Test" that is held for deciding the eligibility for admission to the undergraduate classes like MBBS, BDS and allied courses. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on All-India basis. Students desiring admission to these courses make all out efforts to perform well in this examination and secure a seat for admission to the courses. There are complaints about conduct of the examinations from time to time, like improper way of conducting the examinations and leakage of question papers. Nevertheless, all desiring students seeking admission to these courses look forward eagerly for the examination and its results. 

The examination was conducted two days ago, on Sunday, 4th May, 2025 in various centres across the country.  As is customary on such examination days, some eager parents also accompany their wards to the examination centres, anxious about locating the right room for writing the examination, encouraging them to well and so on. Some even wait outside the examination centre till conclusion of the examination and enquire about the performance of the candidates. This is indeed the culmination of months of efforts be the candidates, tutors and family members. 

Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh was one of the centres for conduct of the examination on Sunday. Among the many candidates and others waiting at the examination centre was one 72-year old Pothula Venkatalakshmi as well. As the parents and guardians wished the candidates well urging them to perform well, all the candidates moved towards the rooms assigned for them to write the examination. Pothula Venkatalakshmi also moved along with the candidates. One of the officials tasked with the conduct of the examination gently told her that parents are not allowed to enter the rooms. She produced her admission card and informed that she was also one of the candidates writing the examination. Dressed in a modest salwar kameez (photograph given above) she confidently took her seat and went on with writing the examination. 

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It appears the NEET lifted the age limit for writing the examination in 2022. Thus being able to write the examination, Venktalakshmi availed the opportunity. Reports say that she earned admiration form everyone around the centre and later from all over the country, She underlined the fact that determination and pursuit of dreams does not come with any expiry date!

One of the seven great Rishis, the Saptarshis, Sage Bharadwaja is a shining example of continuous learning, for the entire life span, getting extensions in life span and even then continuing to learn for ever. Please click here to read about his unquenchable desire for learning. 

We know of innumerable instances where people believe that the learning process concludes once a final degree (in their opinion) is obtained and working life starts. We also have some examples around us where many persons who were deprived of opportunities to get proper education in their younger days doubling up in later years in life and earning tremendous recognition for their efforts as well making valuable contributions to the society. 

Venkatalakshmi has chosen to write an entrance examination for a probable 4-year course. The pursuit of the goal requires tremendous physical energy as well as other resources. The desire to achieve the goal is paramount as we can recognise this from her endeavours.

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There is a Subhashita in "Samoyochita Padyamalika" that symbolises the spirit shown by Pothula Venkatalakshmi. It is as under:

अजरामरवत् प्राज्ञः विद्यां अर्थञ्च साधयेत् 

गृहीत इव केशेषु मृत्युना धर्ममाचरेत्  

Ajaraamaravat pragnyaha vidyaam arthancha saadhayet 

Gruheeta iva kesheshu murutyunaa dharmamacahatet 

A wise man should consider himself immortal 

(free from ageing and death) 

while putting efforts for learning and earning (resources like money etc,).

At the same time, while doing good deeds (practicing dharma), 

he should do them quickly 

as if death is dragging him by grabbing his hair!

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This beautiful saying summarises how we should shape our attitude towards life. There is no end to learning and earning. It should be pursued till the last breath. Otherwise, we cannot achieve these goals. On the other side, do good as quickly as possible and don't postpone it. Life is indeed uncertain. 

Pothula Venkatalakshmi just did not explain this to us. She has showed it to us by her own efforts! 

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This is my 450th blog post. I am beholden to all readers, friends and well-wishers who have motivated me all along, by their kind words of encouragement.