Who is Lavana from Gods, Demons, and Others and what is their importance?

Lavana is a king. When we first meet him, a wandering magician is visiting his assembly hall. Lavana warns the magician not to try any simple magic tricks, as only the never-before-seen will impress him. The magician then tells Lavana to look into his eyes, and King Lavana is transported away from his kingly palace and into an unknown life as a commoner. He lives a lifetime this way - seventy years - before returning to his former self, sitting on his throne as though little or no time at all has passed. The lesson that Lavana learns is that in order to truly understand another's plight, one must walk in their shoes, in this case literally.