According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “Serendipity” is an unplanned, fortunate discovery, which refers to a Persian fairy tale, The Three Princes of Serendip. The princes were “always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of.” A few years ago, in one of our weekly talks about events that impacted us profusely, one of my colleagues talked about chance encounters, the things that happen to us when we least expect them, a concept called “Serendipity”, the occurrence and development of events by chance happily or beneficially.
I am someone who used to believe in destiny, soulmates, and unexpected encounters turning into something incredible like a Christmas game leading to a beautiful friendship, and a misplaced seating arrangement leading to meeting an incredible person. Come what may, the events and the moments immediately after still stay special. When you want something, if that’s what’s meant to be, will the universe conspire in helping you achieve it? Seems unlikely.
Because I might just be a glitch in the matrix. Just like Monica (in “Friends” changed her opinion about soulmates in the later episodes post her wedding that she doesn’t believe in soulmates, my opinion about destiny changed too. Because there were too many factors against it. And I may be the most important factor acting against me. But what if the universe sends you signals to guide you in the right direction? I was scrolling through Instagram last Sunday and a few papers fell from my table. I noticed that it was my study notes, and I kept the papers back on the table and continued to scroll again.
Have you been in those moments where you believe you are relaxing but not feeling as relaxed as you expected to be because you’re either guilty of procrastinating your tasks or constantly thinking about your upcoming deadlines at the back of your mind? This is one of those moments. The paper fell a few times again and I couldn’t help but believe the universe has been sending me signals to stop wasting my time mindlessly. Or do I already know that and am just looking for those signs in the universe? Or it was just a coincidence because the fan’s speed was high and it happened to be the only paper lying on my table. Strange, isn’t it? How an overthinking brain operates! But I believe it can be all three, and I was motivated to do a digital detox both intrinsically and extrinsically.
How can this strange process of the universe communicating with us happen? Will the five basic elements of nature aid the universe? Or do the art forms we keep close to our lives reiterate what we already know? A song rekindling a memory, a movie changing our perspectives, a poster taking us back to our childhood, objects taking us back and forth in time, places that stand as a testament to our emotions, a book, a quote, a letter, or messages that ground you to reality.
A few such forces in the Universe lead two people to find each other in the beautiful movie, “Serendipity” (2001), and let’s talk about it! There were too many pop culture references in the movie, and I have decided to talk about the ones that caught MY attention!
Trivia: The 2003 Tamil Movie “Jay Jay” was inspired by the “Serendipity”
References in Serendipity:
Six Degrees of Separation (Play by John Guare)
Six degrees of separation is the theory that any person on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries. This is referred to in the play of the same name, which ends with a dramatic monologue stating “How every person is a new door, opening up into other worlds. Six degrees of separation between me and everyone else on this planet. But to find the right six people” Likewise the character Paul in the adapted movie of the play also leaves a profound effect on the individuals whom he encountered in his elaborate cons, thus alluding to the theory.
In our movie as well, Jon tries to track her through the connections, the shopkeeper, and the roommate, but the trial ends there because they weren’t the right six people to reach her, they also showed us 3 degrees of separation between Jon and Sara, Jon to Halley (his fiancée), Halley to Sara’s friend Eve, and finally, Eve to Sara which didn’t surface as well.
Love in the Time of Cholera (Novel by Gabriel García Márquez)
I love pre-loved books. I would be beaming with a smile if it had any personal notes because it would feel like the words I love are also loved and related by another person in the world, which gives a strange satisfaction that I am not alone in being moved by words. Gabriel García Márquez writes “He was still too young to know that the heart’s memory eliminates the bad and magnifies the good and that thanks to this artifice we manage to endure the burden of the past”. In the movie, our character in the film Jon magnifies Sara’s good, call me a pessimist but what if Jon spends more time with Sara, and gets exhausted by her nitpicking? What if she is annoyed by his indecisiveness? What is the guarantee that the chance encounter will lead to something good?
But you’ll never know if you don’t try!!
By these words in the novel, “Tell him yes. Even if you are dying of fear, even if you are sorry later because whatever you do, you will be sorry all the rest of your life if you say no”, Sara regrets that she missed the chance to be with Jon after missing him in the elevator. She regrets believing in fate and not taking the chance. I feel the novel rightly fits the movie because the longing, the passion, and the attraction that transcended time and circumstances between the characters Florentino and Fermina in “Love in the Time of Cholera,” and Jon and Sara in “Serendipity” were in a way similar to each other.
Sara Smile (Song by Daryl Hall and John Oates)
In the weeks leading to his wedding, Sara’s name keeps coming back to Jon. It is a cumulative effect of the references in the Golf club, salon, and cab, but the song sung by the biker makes him turn to his friend for help. It might have played on the cab radio, and he would have gotten a chance to change the station, but it was sung by a traveler on the road, upon whom he had no control over. Every song made had a story behind it, some mediocre, some extraordinary, some commercial, and some extremely personal, where even the outcome wouldn’t exceed the blissful experience of making that song. Such is Sara, Smile.
Daryl Hall lived with his girlfriend, Sara Allen, while working on material for “The Silver Album” with John Oates. Oates introduced Allen to Hall after a chance meeting in New York. The meeting inspired Oates to write “Las Vegas Turnaround” for their album “Abandoned Luncheonette.” By 1975, Hall and Allen were in a relationship lasting over 30 years. Hall’s feelings for Allen inspired him to write “Sara Smile,” their first Top 10 hit. “It was a song that came completely out of my heart. I’ve said this many times – it was a postcard. It’s short and sweet and to the point,” said Hall. The magic of serendipity, a chance meeting, and six degrees of separation acting as per the commands of the Universe leading two people together, making a hit song, and having a beautiful relationship.
The Waldorf Principle, Originated from Waldorf-Astoria (a Hotel located in New York City)
The Waldorf Principle illustrates the concept of selfless service benefiting oneself later. The story recounts how George C. Boldt, the first manager of the Waldorf Astoria, generously offered his room to a couple stranded in a storm. The couple, impressed by his kindness, later facilitated Boldt’s opportunity to manage the Waldorf Astoria. Boldt’s innovations, including room service and improved guest experience, contributed to the hotel’s success. While some details are embellished, the core of the story reflects Boldt’s commitment to service and its eventual reward.
Likewise, the service (I wouldn’t call it selfless) of Jon deciding to let Sara have the gloves in Bloomingdale’s benefited him much later. Also, the elevator of Waldorf-Astoria is where he lost her too.
The 23 Enigma
The “23 enigma” is a belief or phenomenon that associates the number 23 with unusual or significant occurrences. In the Illuminatus! Trilogy, written by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea, the number 23 recurs frequently as a symbol of synchronicity and cosmic significance. The 23 enigma is also considered by many to be a form of apophenia, which is the tendency to perceive meaningful patterns or connections in random or meaningless data. The floor pressed by both Jon and Sara was 23, and that is where Sara expected synchronicity between them and the event of arriving at the same floor a cosmic significance to decide their future.
Serendipity III (Restaurant located in New York City)
Serendipity 3 is known for the creation of its most famous dessert, the “Frozen Hot Chocolate.” Legend has it that Frozen Hot Chocolate was invented by accident in the late 1950s when Serendipity 3’s founders, Stephen Bruce, and his mother, stumbled upon the recipe while experimenting with hot chocolate. According to the story, they were attempting to create a traditional hot chocolate beverage but accidentally left it to cool in the refrigerator. When they rediscovered it, they found that the mixture had solidified into a delicious, slushy consistency.
Recognizing the potential of this serendipitous creation, they refined the recipe and began serving it to customers as the “Frozen Hot Chocolate.” The dessert quickly became a sensation, attracting locals and tourists alike with its unique combination of flavors and textures. Sometimes life is filled with such fortunate accidents where you end up with something better than what you expected!
