A clinical psychologist extended advice to filmmakers, who want to portray a problem of mental illness through their films.
Around the world, there is little understanding of mental health problems as there is little awareness about them. In recent years, talking about mental health has become normal, but there is still much to cover. People’s low awareness of mental health issues is the reason they are stigmatized in real life, and our Bollywood movies have always had a problematic approach to it. In the past, many movies have dramatized or made fun of a mental problem. Sara Ali Khan, Dhanush and Akshay Kumar, starring Atrangi Re, were recently added to the roster.
However, the actors were praised for their excellent acting, but the portrayal of mental health has left people with polarized opinions. A film that is fundamentally based on a mental health problem, went on to generalize different mental and behavioral problems and put them under the same umbrella, which is practically very irresponsible.
The reason Atrangi Re has received criticism is for the plot, which has been peppered with moments of humor, even when the film talks about a serious mental health problem. When a character hallucinates and interacts with an imaginary person, this is a sign of schizophrenia. Instead of addressing the problem, the scenes become romantic and comical.
When portraying such a serious mental illness on the big screen, filmmakers must treat it fairly and sensitively, to avoid backing off and giving the wrong message.
Clinical psychologist and founder of MindTribe.in, Dr. Prerna Kohli, told The Indian Express that one cannot know enough about the trials and tribulations of mental health. As for the filmmakers, Prerna gave them some advice. She said they can educate themselves by doing research and also talking to a mental health professional. Prerna suggested that filmmakers can even spend time with a patient and an informant, this will generate empathy, so they will be able to portray the character in a better and more sensitive way.
Dr. Samir Parikh, Director of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences at Fortis Healthcare, opined that not only illness, Bollywood has also misrepresented psychologists, psychiatrists and medications. He stated that a conventional psychologist would have a structured environment to talk to his patients or do therapy, they will not walk on the beach, as shown in Dear Zindagi.
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