We enjoy movies because they let us escape from the harsh facts of life, right? Three hours at a theatre may either make you grin, push you to the edge of your seat, make you laugh out loud, or put you to sleep.
But it’s rare to come across a film that captivates you enough to make you sit up and pay attention. These are flicks that will wake you up and broaden your horizons. They bring to life on the big screen tales that spark conversations that don’t happen in our everyday lives, frequently because they make us uncomfortable and question our preconceived beliefs and preconceptions.
And, while mainstream Bollywood is dominated by overly sensationalized and commercialized films in which the plot takes a second seat, a few contemporary Hindi films stand out. Aside from the much-discussed Padman, here are a few additional films that merit honourable mentions for reawakening the Indian public and utilizing film as a means to initiate a fresh discourse about a variety of societal concerns.
In India, where menstruation is a taboo subject and barely 20% of women use sanitary pads, a film on sanitary pads is going viral. However, while the Bollywood film is causing controversy, it will do little to help the millions of women who face societal prejudice when their period arrives. Padman is an interesting picture with an intriguing title. It is based on the true tale of a rural guy who created a machine to mass-produce sanitary pads at a low cost. When he discovered his wife was using unclean rags to cope with her period as a newlywed, he was spurred to action. In 2014, Arunachalam Muruganantham was named to TIME Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Pink is a 2016 dramatic courtroom film directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and starring Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Andrea Tariang, Angad Bedi, Piyush Mishra, and Dhritiman Chatterjee. It’s the story of a seasoned attorney who takes on the case of three young women accused of attempted murder and character assassination. The movie raises issues about society’s long-held sexist attitudes toward women who stay out late, leave their parents’ homes, live independently, drink or smoke, and so on. It emphasizes the need for consent and the necessity for guys to realize that “no” is “no.” Reviewers applauded the film for advocating women’s rights, and it won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues.
I had contributed my sperms as part of a weird mission while on the reality show Roadies, much to the unexpected joy of my desperate mother. SHARE Shoojit Sircar, I was familiar with the issue and intrigued by the clear and well-written script. I was curious as to why he chose me to play a sperm donor. He stated that he liked me on TV and that I had the purity and sincerity to play the part without making anyone uncomfortable. While most individuals were aware of blood donors in 2012, many were unaware of sperm donors. “Are you serious?” they wondered when I told them I’d be portraying one in my debut film. Vicky Donor was discovered to be a case. It normalised themes like sperm donation, IVF, and surrogacy, making them into drawing room debates, thanks to a modest film that went on to make a significant profit.
