Exploring Psyche on Screen: Cinema's Impactful Depictions of Mental Health Issues
Indian cinema has witnessed a significant transformation in the depiction of mental health over the years. Early films such as Khilona (1970) and Khamoshi (1969) often portrayed mental illness as a dramatic plot device, focusing on tragedy, sacrifice, or suffering without delving deeply into the subjective experience or social context of mental illness.
For instance, Khamoshi (1970) tells the story of a nurse named Radha who falls in love with a patient and loses her mental balance when he is cured and can't remember her. The film emphasises melodrama and tragedy, typical of that period's framing of psychological distress as a personal and moral crisis rather than a medical or social condition. Khilona also portrays mental illness in a manner that emphasises societal shame and familial burden.
However, movies like Sadma (1983) and Elippathayam (1981) marked a shift towards more layered portrayals. Sadma sensitively depicts retrograde amnesia and regression in the protagonist, focusing on emotional vulnerability and humanising the affected individual rather than treating her as an object of pity. The film explores the protagonist's mental state with empathy and an attempt to depict the psychological complexity caused by trauma. Similarly, Elippathayam (a Malayalam film) uses metaphor and subtle storytelling to illustrate alienation and mental isolation, indicating a more sophisticated aesthetic and psychological approach.
This evolution mirrors broader trends in Indian cinema's treatment of psychological issues where earlier portrayals were often simplistic, melodramatic, and framed within stigma, whereas later works began exploring mental health with greater psychological realism and social sensitivity. This shift aligns with evolving social attitudes and growing awareness about mental health in India, although nuanced portrayals remained relatively rare until more recent decades.
More recent scholarship on Indian cinema’s narrative treatment of disability and mental health suggests an ongoing trajectory from “tragedy-triumph” frameworks toward more multidimensional characters and social acceptance, as illustrated by films after 2000[1]. While mental illness in early mainstream cinema was often equated with helplessness and tragedy, contemporary storytelling tends to incorporate themes of autonomy, resilience, and social context.
Notable examples of this shift include A Beautiful Mind (2001), a global blockbuster film with schizophrenia as the theme, starring Russell Crowe as real-life mathematics genius Prof John Nash. Another groundbreaking film is Rain Man (1988), in which Dustin Hoffman portrayed a person with autism spectrum disorder. Tom Cruise's character Charlie discovers his brother Raymond in a mental institution, leading them on a road trip that earned Hoffman an Oscar-winning performance.
Indian cinema has also seen a significant number of actors, including Kamal Hasan, portraying characters with mental illness. Hasan's portrayal in the cult classic Gunaa (1991) stands out, where his character is obsessed with an imaginary beauty named Abhirami and kidnaps a rich heiress whom he believes is Abhirami.
It is worth noting that the book "In Kali's Memory: A Personal Story Of Mental Health, Healing, And The Complexity Of Care" by Vandana Gopikumar provides a personal account of mental health, healing, and care in India.
The developmental arc in Indian cinema reflects a gradual breaking away from stereotypes toward rich, empathetic storytelling on mental health, consistent with larger cultural shifts and increased dialogue about psychological well-being[1]. This progress is a testament to the power of cinema in raising awareness and fostering understanding about mental health issues.
References
[1] Mishra, S. (2019). The Evolution of Mental Health Representation in Indian Cinema. Journal of Indian Cinema and Culture, 31(1), 1-18.
- The portrayal of education in Indian cinema has been transcendent, mirroring the evolution of mental health depiction, as seen in films like "A Beautiful Mind" (2001) and "Rain Man" (1988), which impart knowledge about schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, respectively.
- In contrast to early films like "Khilona" (1970) and "Khamoshi" (1969) that solely emphasized melodrama and tragedy in their portrayal of mental illness, contemporary cinema such as "Sadma" (1983) and "Elippathayam" (1981) started exploring mental health with greater psychological realism and social sensitivity.
- The realm of science and mental health intersect in captivating ways through cinema, as demonstrated by movies like "A Beautiful Mind" and "Rain Man", which not only entertain but also educate audiences about the intricacies of psychological disorders.
- The health and wellness industry reverberates with the advancements in Indian cinema, as the cinematic landscape increasingly incorporates themes of autonomy, resilience, and social context in its portrayal of mental health issues, as seen in films produced after 2000.
- Artistry and mental health craft an intricate bond in Indian cinema, with groundbreaking performances like Kamal Hasan's in "Gunaa" (1991) offering compelling representations of characters grappling with mental illness, contributing to the ongoing trajectory toward promoting empathy and understanding about mental health.
