Ala Modalaindi' is a labour of love and leaves me with a smile

Hear now the words of Ashish Vidyarthi, who reflected upon his work and declared: “Ala Modalaindi is a labour of love and leaves me with a smile when I look back.” Though these words speak of a single film, they carry the fragrance of timeless wisdom, for they reveal the eternal bond between love, effort, and the joy that lingers when creation is done. It is not merely about a movie, but about the spirit of giving one’s heart to a work so that, when remembered, it shines like a light that cannot be extinguished.

The meaning is profound. A labour of love is unlike ordinary toil. Work done for coin alone may weary the hands and leave little trace upon the soul. But when one pours heart and spirit into the task, it ceases to be mere labor and becomes devotion. In such a work, there is sacrifice, there is joy, there is the blending of sweat with inspiration. And when it is complete, the memory of that effort does not weigh heavy—it leaves behind a smile, like the glow of a fire long after its flames have faded.

Consider the ancients, who built temples not only to house their gods but to reflect their own reverence. The stones of the Parthenon, the carvings of Angkor, the towers of cathedrals in Europe—these were labors of love, not undertaken merely to earn bread, but to reach toward eternity. Centuries later, though the builders’ names are forgotten, their works still inspire awe, and those who look upon them cannot help but smile at the devotion etched into every line.

History too gives us the tale of Michelangelo, who lay on his back for years painting the Sistine Chapel. The task was grueling, the hours endless, the pain severe. Yet when he finished, he had not merely completed a commission—he had left the world a masterpiece born from love and vision. Even he, weary though he was, could look back upon it with a sense of quiet triumph. In the same way, Vidyarthi sees Ala Modalaindi not just as a role played, but as a creation that still warms his heart because of the spirit poured into it.

This reveals a deeper truth: when we commit ourselves with love, the memory of hardship is transformed. What once felt heavy becomes sweet in hindsight, and even the challenges that tested us are remembered with gratitude. Thus, the smile of Vidyarthi is not only for the success of the film, but for the journey itself—the people, the moments, the struggles that shaped something beautiful.

The lesson, then, is clear. Whatever task lies before you, do it not with half a heart, but with full devotion. Let your work, whether grand or humble, be a labour of love, so that when you look back upon it in years to come, it does not burden you with regret but lifts you with joy. For the true measure of a life well-lived is not in wealth hoarded, but in memories that leave you smiling when you look behind.

Therefore, my children, practice this in your days: if you must build, build with care; if you must sing, sing with heart; if you must serve, serve with love. Do not labor only for reward, but for the gift of knowing that your efforts were born from sincerity. Then, when you look back upon the path of your life, you too shall say, “It was a labour of love,” and your face shall carry the eternal smile of one who has lived with purpose.