Time and again Bollywood has turned to human diseases to churn out hits which ring the boxoffice cash counters. Schizophrenia (Karthik Calling Karthik, Aankhen, Woh Lamhe), Asperger’s Syndrome (My Name Is Khan), Progeria (Paa), Amnesia (Ghajini), Alzheimers (U Me Aur Hum), Dyslexia (Taare Zameen Par), Autism (Apna Asman), Mental Retardness (KoiMil Gaya) are some of the recent movies with a rare disease background. Although all of these are mind related, bodily related problems such as Deafness & Blindness is also combined with Alzheimers in Black. And then again Cancer (Anand, Dil Ek Mandir Hai, Mili), heart disease (Kal Ho Na Ho) have given heart-wrenching, cash rich movies.
There are some more movies like Krazzy 4 (Mental Illness), Shaadi Se Pehle (Cancer), Chup Chup Ke (Deaf & Mute), Pyare Mohan (Deaf & Blind), Naina (Blindness), Phir Milenge and My Brother Nikhil (HIV/AIDS), Sadma (Coma) etc. which may not have become runaway box-office hits but have some major illness as its backdrop. Some other films like Beti Kromi have used miscarriage as its backdrop. In Luck, dextrocardia – a situation in which the heart is situated at the right is used to save the hero!
And this is not the end; following the success of these kinds of movies there are more coming soon – Nana Patekar is making one on autism and there is one on bipolar disorder in the making. So what is there in medical conditions, which makes it very attractive to the audience?
Firstly, medical conditions cut across all the barriers and can be a part of any human life: be it the man in the limousine or the man on the street. Everybody can perfectly understand the situation and empathise with the sufferer.
Secondly, medical conditions, most of the times are caused by the nature. There is no logical reasoning as to why it happened to a particular person. Hence, if we take a relook at all the above films, the unknown disease films had a better hit rate. Cancer was little known in the seventies, while today it is very well known with a proper diagnosis/cure available. Mental disease cures are still at large and hence these hit with the films now-a-days. It is more of curiosity and the fear of unknown which drives the audience to the theatres.
Thirdly, medical conditions unleash a host of emotions – like love, grief, fear, anger, anxiety, compassion, frustration etc. Most of the audience must have experienced these situations and felt the emotions. Emotions help the audience to relate with the story increasing the films’ ratings.
Finally, medical conditions provide an opportunity for the human will to succeed against the destiny and science. The stories tend to give out strong message on human willpower, which can be applied to any living condition!
Medical conditions will remain as a part of films and novels as many times it is a case of “Life inspires Art” and portrays the inherent strengths of human beings. Bollywood has evolved and will continue making movies using medical conditions in an innovative manner!
There are some more movies like Krazzy 4 (Mental Illness), Shaadi Se Pehle (Cancer), Chup Chup Ke (Deaf & Mute), Pyare Mohan (Deaf & Blind), Naina (Blindness), Phir Milenge and My Brother Nikhil (HIV/AIDS), Sadma (Coma) etc. which may not have become runaway box-office hits but have some major illness as its backdrop. Some other films like Beti Kromi have used miscarriage as its backdrop. In Luck, dextrocardia – a situation in which the heart is situated at the right is used to save the hero!
And this is not the end; following the success of these kinds of movies there are more coming soon – Nana Patekar is making one on autism and there is one on bipolar disorder in the making. So what is there in medical conditions, which makes it very attractive to the audience?
Firstly, medical conditions cut across all the barriers and can be a part of any human life: be it the man in the limousine or the man on the street. Everybody can perfectly understand the situation and empathise with the sufferer.
Secondly, medical conditions, most of the times are caused by the nature. There is no logical reasoning as to why it happened to a particular person. Hence, if we take a relook at all the above films, the unknown disease films had a better hit rate. Cancer was little known in the seventies, while today it is very well known with a proper diagnosis/cure available. Mental disease cures are still at large and hence these hit with the films now-a-days. It is more of curiosity and the fear of unknown which drives the audience to the theatres.
Thirdly, medical conditions unleash a host of emotions – like love, grief, fear, anger, anxiety, compassion, frustration etc. Most of the audience must have experienced these situations and felt the emotions. Emotions help the audience to relate with the story increasing the films’ ratings.
Finally, medical conditions provide an opportunity for the human will to succeed against the destiny and science. The stories tend to give out strong message on human willpower, which can be applied to any living condition!
Medical conditions will remain as a part of films and novels as many times it is a case of “Life inspires Art” and portrays the inherent strengths of human beings. Bollywood has evolved and will continue making movies using medical conditions in an innovative manner!
