Friendship Lessons from the REEL World

Friendship Day is here and you're probably feeling nostalgic. Those days in school, spent at scavenging for the perfect kind of friendship band for each of your friends, going to the most posh gifting shops to find that one super special rakhi for your best friend in hope to express just how much he means to you, spending the eve before Friendship Day probably even making your own rakhis with an array of colourful thread, beads and glitter... 

And of course, when the actual day approached, you and your friends had to find sneaky ways to exchange friendship bands and make sure that none of the teachers saw it! And, you have to admit it, you definitely had a contest with your friends to compare who had the most number of Friendship Bands too! 

Oh, the little joys of school life. Don't we all miss them? 

Whether it was Rahul from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai who brought about the advent of this celebration in your life or you were just influenced by all those around you, Friendship Day has played a major part in all our lives, the entire way from school to college. We all have vivid memories of this day! 

Of course, times have changed now. With school friends having left the hometown you all grew up in, to different cities and countries and the gossip sessions during substitution period now taking place only over WhatsApp or Skype...friendship is now digital!  

Of course, we're all thankful for the fact that we can still share a meal over video call even with someone who's on a different continent but we'll always the reminisce the good old days of school, won't we? Childhood will always remain the golden era of friendship. 

This Friendship Day, let's look at the top 14 cartoons, shows and movies that have shaped our views on true friendship and have taught us about life and camaraderie almost as much as experience could!  

Here's our top 14: 

 

1. F.R.I.E.N.D.S 

Okay, so you knew this was coming! Not only is it one of the most beloved TV series of all time, it's one that we can all watch over and over again. Sure, it came out twenty years ago and Ben is now probably as old you are, but the show still remains everyone's favouriteAt 20, at 30, at 40...it will always be relatable. Ross, Rachel, Monica, Joey, Phoebe and Chandler- these six names are unforgettable and so are the lessons they’ve taught us. From Ross' 'pivot!' to Phoebe's 'smelly cat, smellyyyy cattt', we were taught the meaning of true friendship with the return of every season. Chandler and Joey epitomize true friendship with constantly being there for each other, through thick and thin. Rachel and Monica are probably your own personal friendship goals, with Monica putting a roof over Rachel's head when she has nowhere to go!  When one of the characters doesn't like who one of their friends is dating, they tell them right away. Or, when one of the friends needs advice, they can always go to one of the other five for help and reassurance. So of course, this show has really shaped our opinions about friendship. 

 

2. How I Met Your Mother 

With every episode, this iconic show has taught its viewers life lessons and lessons about friendship over and over again. Marshall and Ted's friendship remains as strong as ever, in spite of the constant changes that take place over the course of their lives. From being roommates in college, living with each other in New York, getting married and moving out, not a thing changes between them, however, the distance between them may be! Barney and Ted teach us that two people don’t have to be alike in order to be great friends. With Ted's intellectual, artsy persona and Barney's outgoing personality, the two still make a great pair! It also talks to you about how not all friendships stay the same all our lives, only the special ones do- “And that’s how it goes kids. The friends, neighbours, drinking buddies and partners in crime you love so much when you’re young, as the years go by, you just lose touch.” - Ted Mosby 

 

3. Finding Nemo 

There is absolutely no way Nemo's Dad could have it made it to him without the help of Dory! This classic animated movie taught us all about how important it is to not be afraid while accepting help and making friends. Teamwork and friendship go hand in hand, as exhibited by the two on their quest to get Nemo back! Friendship can come from the most unexpected places and this is also seen when Dory, towards the end of the movie, says I remember things better with you…It’s there, I know it is because when I look at you, I can feel it. And — and I look at you, and I…and I’m home.” Their friendship also teaches the viewers to trust their friends and listen to what they say! No wonder this movie comes in our top favourite movies that teach us all about friendship! 

 

4. Phineas and Ferb 

We've all spent afternoons watching this amazing show on repeat. These two intelligent, super creative brothers and their adventures combined were the envy of us all! How they lived their summer vacation remains 'goals' for us even today. It taught us how even siblings can be the best of friends ( ignoring Candace, of course) and together can have a blast dreaming, playing, inventing and creating! Candace's constant tattletaling to their parents never worked. Of course, this signifies how one should remain loyal in friendship and keep jealousy at bay! The best thing about the two friends or two brothers is that they get each other instantly. They were always there for each other and made the perfect partners in crime, no matter what they were up to. Their skills complemented each other and together, they were the smartest kids in town! They also always made it a point to always include all the kids from the neighbourhood in their plans and never left anyone out- that's real friendship! 

 

5. Harry Potter 

Throughout the books and movies, we grew up in the comfort of the friendship among Ron, Harry and Hermione. You probably envied them too! As the story progresses, the three turn out to be super loyal and super supportive to each other, no matter how dire the situation is. All the way from helping Harry in 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' in defeating Professor Quirrell to Harry being able to defeat the Hungarian Horntail in 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', the aid and selflessness of is friends save Harry in many situations. The series teaches us to cherish our friends when they're around and be their eternal source of encouragement and support! The good news is, you don’t have to be a student in Hogwarts to have a friendship as strong as the three brave kids do. All that you muggles have to do is be there for your friends, respect their values and opinions and just be yourself with them around! 

 

6. Tom & Jerry 

Tom & Jerry were always on the chase but they spent enough time to be considered best friends! As children, it taught us that it doesn’t matter in friendship if you're different from each other! If a cat and mouse can be friends, then so can people who are polar opposites. It also depicts how you can have endless fights with those closest to you, but as long as you stand next to each other against the rest of the world, things will definitely be okay! 

 

7. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

We've all seen this movie multiple times and yet we never get bored of it, do we? This fantastic movie is an ode to the joys and comfort of friendship and the importance of travel, of course! Hrithik, Abhay and Farhan all play completely different characters from different backgrounds and of different interests but still have the time of their lives together. It talks about how sometimes, your friends understand you better than you possibly ever could! You only live once...but live adventurously, make good friends and it'll be enough!  

 

8. Dil Chahta Hai 

Admit it, we've all seen this movie and can majorly relate with either Akash, Siddharth or Sameer! While the movie shows us how hard the transition of moving from carefree, chilled out college to an adult world where bills don’t pay themselves and not all is rosy, it also shows us what friendship is all about. It talks about balancing jobs, relationships and maintaining one's sanity at the same time! Their spontaneous road trip immediately makes us want to escape from the mundane realities of work life too! Filled with just the right amount of comedy and intensity, this movie can make each one of us laugh and cry at the same time! 

 

9. Mean Girls

This one has a huge cult following and rightfully so. You must be living under a rock if you haven't heard of this movie. It took the world by storm by introducing us to the vicious "plastics" and the mind games that they played to stay in power. It shows how true friendships cannot be formed through manipulations and in the end, only the people who actually care about you are the ones that matter. Cady learned a life lesson about friendships and so did we.   

 

10. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai 

Every 90s kid has seen this movie and it taught us how friendship and love always go hand in hand. It's hard to forget the mesmerizing trio – Rahul, Anjali and Tina as they took us on a great journey that made us realize that love and friendship don't come easy and that friends can break your heart too but they can also be the very people who mend it. From this sweet love story of Rahul and Anjali, we learned that true friendships are the ones that can survive the test of time. "Pyaar dosti hai"- a line that none of us can ever forget! 

 

11. 3 Idiots

Sure, this movie is among the biggest Bollywood blockbusters out there and taught the entire nation about how important it is to make education about learning. But, Rancho, Raju and Farhan- this trio also taught us that true friendship never fizzles out, even if your best friend has been MIA for years! With these three buddies and their honesty and affection towards each other, pointing out each other's strengths and weaknesses and yet loving each other endlessly...what else does a friendship need? Rancho's constant encouragement in getting Farhan to pursue his passion of Wildlife photography and unending support for Raju's hardships taught us the importance of always being there for our friends. 

 

12. Wake up Sid 

Sid's friendship with Ayesha is a different one, indeed. While Sid comes from a rich family where he can be as bratty as he wants to, the quiet, sensible Ayesha helps him stand up on his feet. Not only does she share her apartment with him, she helps him find a job and subsequently...find himself! Their friendship is a strange one yet it reminds us of that one friend who may be the same age as us but is light years ahead in terms of thinking and maturity!  

 

13. Jaane tu...ya Jaane na 

This epic friendship turned romance is a must watch for every guy and girl out there. Aditi and Jai knew they'd find love but they never thought that they'd find it with each other. Falling in love with your best friend might be the scariest thing to you but it could also be the most wonderful thing that could ever happen to you. This is what Jaane Tu made us realize, that it is okay to take one step forward in your friendship because that one step could make you the happiest person in the world, and honestly, isn't that what we all are searching for anyway?  

 

14. Queen

Rani and Vijaylakshmi aka 'Vijay' show us that female friendship can be just great as any other bros out there! Although the movie is about women empowerment, it also goes a long way in discussing how women need to be there for each other in a world where their place is often seen as lower than men. The chemistry between Vijay and Rani is amazing and comical at the same time! With the start contrast in their personalities, they still make the best of friends and have oodles of fun together while still teaching each other lessons of their own. While Rani goes on about "Mera toh itna life kharab ho gaya", Vijay listens patiently and helps Rani get out of her shell! Even when Rani meets 3 strangers and lives with them in a foreign city, she shows how you can have the best time of your life with friends you've just made! 

 

We at bigsmall.in wish you a Happy Friendship Day and hope you spend the day sharing stories and drinks with your closest buddies! If that's not possible, give your buddies a call and tell them you appreciate their presence in your life. Cheer up their faces with the coolest friendship day gifts that speak volumes about how much their friendship means to you.  

Happy Gifting!