1. From: jeste, Dilip <djeste@ucsd.edu>
Date: 16 August 2015 at 01:42
Dear Mohan,
I was deeply impressed with the film Astu. I had heard beforehand that it was a great
movie, but on seeing it, I realized it was even better than what I expected. It is a
tremendously moving story that provides a unique insight into Alzheimer's disease -
similar to what the Beautiful Mind did for schizophrenia. The depiction of different
characters is so true to life that you feel you are physically among them. While
Alzheimer's is obviously a terrible disease, the film presents a heart-warming story that
makes you laugh and cry. Outstanding screen play, acting, and direction. What a
treasure!
Dilip
Dilip V. Jeste, M.D.
Senior Associate Dean for Healthy Aging and Senior Care
Estelle and Edgar Levi Chair in Aging
Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences
Director, Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive #0664
San Diego, California 92093
Phone: (858) 534-4020
Fax: (858) 534-5475
djeste@ucsd.edu
http://jeste.ucsd.edu

2. From: Vahia, Ipsit <ivahia@ucsd.edu>
Date: 18 August 2015 at 11:29
Subject: RE: movie - Wed July 8
To: Mohan Agashe <magashe@gmail.com>
'Astu' was the rare film that manages to be though provoking, entertaining, educational
and enriching simultaneously. In telling the story of an intellectual afflicted with
Alzheimer's disease it manages the tricky task of humanizing this condition. Individual
anecdotes that tell the story of Professor Shastri's battle with this disease will ring
deeply familiar to anyone who has dealt with persons with dementia, whether as a
clinician or caregiver.
I found myself thinking about this film for several days after the screening, and what
continues to stand out for me is the film's application of highly complex Indian
philosophical tenets to cognitive impairment. While medical science is clear in labelling
the loss of a sense of self as advanced pathology, the film presents an alternative
paradigm - one that I have not encountered before. The film suggests that loss of a
sense of self and personal historical context may enable a person to live purely in the
present, and as suggested by the elephant mahout's wife, may enable a person "to
become God". I certainly expect to spend some time over the next few months
contemplating this notion and reading into the philosophical underpinnings of this idea.
It is highly unlikely that a Western film would interpret dementia in such a manner. Astu
was a truly special experience and I know I will watch it again when the opportunity
presents itself.
Ipsit V. Vahia, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry,
Director of Research, Senior Behavioral Health
Stein Institute for Research on Aging
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive #0664
La Jolla, CA 92093
Phone: 858 822 3151
Fax: 858 534 5475