On the screen = on the streets

Society and art have always had a symbiotic relationship, each influencing the other. As such, darker portrayals of topics like rape and assault have also been on the silver screen for many years.

While there have been a number of movies that cannot see beyond the sensationalisation of the crime and the victimisation of the survivor, there have been more and more movies that have showed more sensitivity towards these portrayals in recent movies.

A reflection of changed sensibilities, subsequently can be seen in Maharashtra’s education system. The state’s education board is changing its medical textbooks and syllabus to be more sensitive to victims of sexual assault. Some of the major changes include sensitivity lessons on how to treat assault survivors better psychologically, and not treat them like walking, talking evidences; a welcome change.

Filmmaker Alankrita Srivastava says this is a much-needed reform. “I am glad that medical students are being taught sensitivity when it comes to dealing with victims of sexual assault. A greater awareness about matters like these is absolutely essential and for students of medical science even more, since they will have an impact in the lives of survivors.”

But the question now is that with movies being a reflection of our society, and the recent likes of Mom dealing with issues of sexual assault and rape, will Bollywood also change the depiction of survivors on the big screen?

Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, director of Pink, believes that society reflects in movies and vice versa. So films like Mom and Matr being made are only a natural result of the social atmosphere. “When making a film, it is essential to believe in what you are making and to be emotionally moved by it yourself. There is so much going on in society around us and ultimately all of it finds expression in films. As a filmmaker, perhaps I cannot sit in judgement at cases myself, but I can make a film that tells the story as I want it to be told, which is what I did with Pink. One needs to keep one’s eyes and ears open to all news and then when there is some topic, which moves you, you try to incorporate it into your art,” he explains.

Screenshot from Pink

Many a times however, when directors pick sexual assualt as the subject of their films, they fail to step away from the high-drama and sesnationalism that is quintesential of Bollywood. “Though most directors try to convey a positive message, often the effect is the opposite,” sighs Onir,  director of I Am, a 2010 film that deals with child sexual assualt. “There is a voyeuristic element that comes into the portrayal, which should be avoided at all costs.”

But even as sexual assualt is a common plot tool for Bollywood, the portrayal is what needs to be concentrated on since it is not only the audience that is faced with an impact but also is the actor; a child actor, in Onir’s case. He explains, “It is important to avoid scenes that are too gory or graphic, since that can also affect the child actor in an adverse way. One has to keep these aspects in mind when making a film.”

While the debate on how much to portray and how to portray in the best way is endless, Aniruddha says that stories like these ultimately need to be told. After all, it is through art that change can be brought about in society. “I believe that movies, books and other forms of popular culture definitely have an effect on society. Everyone who was in Pink, from the actors to the members of the crew, became more responsible and sensitive after working in the film. Films and reality have a symbiotic relationship. What is portrayed in films is taken from society, and, if made well, the message of the film, creates ripples in society,” he asserts.