I recently watched a Tamil movie- Sembi. It is based on the concept of the POSCO act. Apart from being a satire on the corrupt political system, the film has a gut-wrenching storyline and scenes that stay with you for a long time after the movie. The quote from the bible at the end of the movie is heartwarming.
I am a big fan of stories based on real-life incidents and plotlines closer to reality. But, my problem and I hope many readers can relate to it — is the trauma portrayed on screen. Movies and series like Sembi, Gargi, Ponmagal vandhal, Paava kadhai gal, Thar, Khuda Haafiz have great cinematic value and genuine intent to portray the victim’s ordeal. Some scenes make you empathize and shed a tear for the victim and the family. But,
Can we discuss the trauma?
The portrayal of trauma in films today has become a significant concern. Many movies depict traumatic events in a disturbingly graphic manner, aiming to create a sense of realism and connect with the audience. However, this approach has resulted in a divided response among viewers.
Some appreciate the film’s artistry, focusing on the plot, cinematography, and screenplay. Others, like myself, struggle to watch the traumatic scenes and try to skip them. Unfortunately, a small but significant group of viewers derive pleasure from the depiction of pain and suffering on screen.
The impact of trauma on the screen should be carefully considered and balanced with the goal of artistic expression.
These high-content films are not meant for entertainment. This is a new era of Indian cinema. Concepts like child abuse, gang rape, domestic violence, homophobia, honor killing, bullying, and harsh realities of society are being screened and discussed. When a team sits down and takes the courage to bring these stories on screen, they would leave no stone unturned to make it life-like. But, the extent to which the trauma and psychotic behavior shown on screens is exponentially increasing, and sometimes, the scenes of trauma can be avoided.
Stop portraying child abuse on screen.
We have been highlighting this particular trauma for ages with poignant movies like Jaago and Damini. It is even more traumatizing to watch when you start empathizing with the character’s gender and age. In cinema, everything meets a saturation point. Beyond this, the content is intolerable. The representation of trauma on screen has reached the saturation point. I am not against realist films that portray the victim’s plight. I am against the amount of trauma consumed by the youth while watching the movie and the ways in which they respond to them.
An equally effective practical alternative to depict trauma could be an adult actor talking about the incident rather than shooting the scene with a child. I am not a critic. I am just like any other movie buff who would never leave a chance to appreciate cinema. We are beginning to appreciate and encourage content-oriented films. Could the moviemakers try to tone down the amount of trauma shown in their movies?
