Who’s who?

He had a one-track mind which made him a roaring success in his pursuits. Naturally gifted, his reputation as a sharpshooter became a legend, and he is among the all time greats. Yet, he is known to have suffered from performance-anxiety, and on the most important day of his life was numb with doubt. If not for his friend, who galvanized him to action with the best pep-talk ever in the history of the world, the man would have gone down and been remembered as a royal choker.

Suave, courteous, knowledgeable, and prodigiously talented – the only chink in his armor was a lack of killer-instinct. Perhaps, that’s why women found him irresistible, and old timers still recount his exploits with as much fervor as they talk about his derring-do. He eloped with his best friend’s sister.

Some say that he was the brawn, and the brains behind most of his feats belonged to his friend, who was almost his alter-ego. Like the MGR-Karunanidhi duo, they had a firm grip on the pulse of the moment. When bad times hit him, he had to spend years incognito, sometime disguised as a eunuch.

He came back from the cold, set back his setbacks, and lived a dream life. Only in the autumn of his years, his prowess faltered. Street thugs molested the consort of his best friend in his presence, and he had to digest the ignominy.

On judgment day, he was found to have suffered from the sin of pride, of feeling that he was the best.

Who is this man? Is he only Arjuna, the archer prince from Mahabharata? If you look at his trajectory, you find that he was good in his job, and yet required constant reminders that he could do it. He had a support system in his best friend, with whose sister he eloped. Reversal of fortune hit him like a Muhammad Ali punch, and remained 'emasculated' for some time. He regained what he had lost, and enjoyed the good life. At the end, he discovered that even his own country was No country for old men.

If we take away the gloss, it could be the story of every man - the man, who is brave and coward at the same time. Arjuna was skillful, but needed recognition from others to bolster his self-esteem. He was a champ, and on his day could easily stop the world; and yet suffered from performance-anxiety. Though he did not know it, he felt that he was the best. And, yes – he had a thing for his best friend’s sister.

Heroes are Hollywood versions of the common man, or common men are heroes without the fancy trappings.

Which side are you on? Who is who?