Child sexual abuse is one of the ugliest hidden realities of India’s dangerously repressed society. Over 53% of children in India have faced some form of sexual abuse, as per a government study, despite the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, a comprehensive law to deal with the crime and deter perpetrators.
While this heinous crime thrives under our silence, many Hindi films have however, attempted to talk about it directly. Bollywood, of course, has seldom been the best when it comes to portraying sensitive topics. From rampant ableism, objectification, and sexism to the glorification of rape culture, it has contributed to the worst forms of oppression. However, even a broken clock can be right twice, and a number of Bollywood films exist which address child sexual abuse in a surprisingly sensitive manner. Given the breadth and complexity of the issue, not all of these films completely hit the mark, but the fact that they exist as part of one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world is a big step forward.
Here’s a look at six of them:
1. “I Am”, that shows the power of saying “No!”:
“I Am Abhimanyu”, the third short in Onir’s landmark anthology “I Am”, tackles child sexual abuse in a way few Indian films have ever done. Based on the true stories of fashion designer Ganesh Nallari and equal rights activist Harish Iyer, it film depicts how a film director (played by Sanjay Suri and Zain Salam) deals with the trauma of sexual abuse at the hands of his step-father (played by Anurag Kashyap) for 11 years and attempts to move forward and forge his own identity as a person. The film demonstrates the power of being able to say “No” to abuse and unwanted advances, and the sheer courage it takes. Not only does it show how the effects of such abuse can persist lifelong, it also addresses the fact that often, sexual abuse occurs at the hands of close family members or acquaintances.
2. “Page 3”, that speaks about how ‘respectable’ people can be involved in child trafficking and abuse:
Madhur Bhandarkar is known for his sensationalist take on issues, and his depiction of child trafficking and abuse in “Page 3” is no different. But the film still tackles the fact that such incidents can happen under the veneer of ‘respectability’, by depicting famous figures committing such crimes. Sexual trafficking of children is a serious, difficult to tackle problem, and an attempt to draw attention to it in a sensitive manner in a medium that can reach millions is more than welcome – it’s necessary.
3. “Highway”, that shows how child abuse cuts across class:
4. “Monsoon Wedding”, that shows how necessary it is for family to stand by a survivor:
5. “Gunday”, that shows how people in positions of power can exploit children:
6. “Kahaani 2”, that tries to tackle child sexual abuse head-on:
Sujoy Ghosh’s 2016 sequel to his 2012 thriller hinted that it would deal with child sexual abuse in its trailers, but what surprised many when the film was released was how crucial the issue was to the plot. The film’s direct approach to several aspects of child sexual abuse is, in many ways, unprecedented in mainstream Bollywood cinema. From the difficulty children may face in articulating the abuse they have experienced, being barred from accessing the language of sex, sexuality, and violence that would allow them to express it, to the fact that such abuse often occurs within the family and is either hushed up or silently encouraged by other members of the family in an attempt to maintain a facade of respectability, “Kahaani 2” attempts to give a serious, rounded view of a pressing issue in the garb of a thriller; and while it may be guilty of sometimes reducing the child’s trauma to a plot device and not giving her enough agency, it is still an important film.
With Bollywood’s focus on the family as a unit, it is no surprise that many of these films focus on abuse at the hands of a family member/friend, and how families deal with the same. Survivor accounts abound that show how often families react by covering up the incident – even though that is a crime under POCSO – and how societal repression ensures that families are reluctant to confront or come to terms with it, regardless of the long-term effects on the survivor.
While these films have each attempted to tackle child sexual abuse in their own ways, with varying degrees of success and sensitivity, the one point that they all make is the necessity of breaking this silence surrounding this grave issue. It is crucial that we follow their lead – beginning from our own homes.
The post How These 6 Movies Dealt With The Issue Of Child Sexual Abuse appeared first and originally on Youth Ki Awaaz, an award-winning online platform that serves as the hub of thoughtful opinions and reportage on the world's most pressing issues, as witnessed by the current generation. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out more.