GHAJINI: Sub texts of the Oeuvre

A new controversy is brewing around the success of GHAJINI and views are being expressed that the Censor Board should revisit its certification for GHAJINI and award it an adult certificate. If it happens, it would be for the first time that a certification for the film would be changed based on feelings of certain quarters.

In this melee of violence, which is sort of being identified with GHAJINI quite a lot of other redeeming features associated with GHAJINI seem to be pushed in the background. GHAJINI is one of the first films where on screen sentiment is expressed against 'No smoking', and the reference is alluded to the same as being banned by the government. Censor board needs to highlight this aspect to the critics who are baying for the blood.

Among the other benchmarks that GHAJINI has been able to create is in displaying a definite sense of compassion against the physically challenged individuals. When was the last time in the Hindi films, when such compassion was shown for the physically challenged persons, more so, when a new female face is being introduced to the audience? In such scenarios the quotient of glamour dominates predominantly.


GHAJINI however is different. In this film not once but twice phenomenal amount of empathy has been shown against the persons who have been rather unfortunate to be alive in the world, but with having certain physical deficiencies which makes their day–to–day survival an ordeal. The effort on part of the director to dwell in this direction and bring it out as being the character trait of the female star would be one of the firsts ever in the history of Indian cinema, as the female star who makes debut is shown to be brusque, and having a scorn for others in general.

The sheer idea of including this as a theme in the film needs to be applauded, and the critics need to be told, that it is a counter point to the violence. Younger generation is generally viewed as being without compassion, but this kind of demonstrative picturisation should dispel this notion and would encourage more numbers from the younger generation to develop empathy for the physically challenged. For this sheer fact GHAJINI needs to be appreciated.