“Brothers and sisters, you must be getting shocked to hear the Prime Minister speaking of cleanliness and the need to build toilets from the ramparts of the Red Fort… I want to make a beginning today itself and that is – all schools in the country should have toilets with separate toilets for girls…” these were the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he delivered his first-ever I-Day speech in 2014. What seemed like a far-fetched dream has actually turned out to be such a massive reality, a national movement, an unprecedented success. 75 years down the line, country’s youth today is playing a major role in setting a tone for the New India’s persona. Their level of awareness and sense of activism is so fierce that it has started becoming a core of all the decision-making and stage-setting, political, administrative, creative or otherwise. So much so that thought leaders like policy makers or even film makers are left with no choice but to notice the mood of the youth, their needs, aspirations and agitation.
Filmmakers are picking up subjects as diverse as – open defecation (Toilet Ek Prem Katha), the growth trajectory of Entrepreneurship in India (Sui Dhaga), India’s success story of scaling space (Mission Mangal), tackling an age-old taboo subject like menstruation (Padman) or Educating the Politician (Dasvi). Movie ‘Padman’ captured the zeitgeist of orthodox India. ‘Toilet Ek Prem Katha’ showcased how toilets are important to maintain the hygiene of India and the security of its women citizenry. Other recent movies like ‘Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan’ took up the cause of gender inclusivity.
The above-mentioned movies are bound by a force named “Social Cause/Responsibility” and all are based on some of the recent laws and policies that have come into being in last few years. Content makers seem to have cracked a code to producing unassailable content now but the message has to be genuine, the implications being projected have to be in sync with real-life frameworks and scenarios, in order to reflect that ‘Change’ in their final product. Though, reformist policies and ideas provide a great base to start building on to, one cannot lose the sight of the bigger picture in the process also and there is absolutely no room for sensationalism. In the end, it is this criticality (bigger picture) that the audience is looking forward to analyze, waiting to get soaked in the many realities that such movies can so easily offer, eager to learn and have a glimpse of all the possibilities of building a better society for all.
Cinema is said to be a reflection of society. The progress and growth of civilisation when adapted on-screen paves the way forward, it becomes what the audience seeks. From rickety single screens to plush multiplexes, cinema has changed from being a mere source of “Entertainment” to promoting “Social and Responsible” content. As an audience, we have majorly been exposed to movies where the protagonist is often seen fighting against inequality and mending the flawed system. But last couple of years have witnessed an unprecedented change in terms of projection with focus now being kept on the flawed system and ways of fixing it, rather than on the adherent character – simply put – taking the odyssey from reel to real! The audience has decided now to not clap at the stardom but demand realities of life on the screen. Hence, now mainstreaming new ideas and changes, especially positive laws and policies, that connect to a large section of society, has become the formula for success as more and more folks find relevance in such a content.
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