Bollywood Films That Introduced A Complete Generation To Different Types Of Mental Health Disorders

Given the stigma round mental health problems in the country movies come to act as big agents of social change as they ease us into a culture of communication on such sensitive matters. To act in such films that include reality and identity needs much more hard work and sincerity. If I talk about mental health, then I must say a massive percentage (more than 12%) of the population in India is suffering from a mental disorder of some sort. Bollywood remarkably has played a big role in introducing and educating an entire generation of the many kinds of mental health issues and made them a subject of living room discussions. 

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BLACK – In this movie Big B depicted the role of an old age man suffering from Alzheimer's which is a kind of dementia that affects the memory, due to which behavioral changes also occur. Although it was not much about the disease in this movie but definitely we can get some ideas to deal patients suffering from Alzheimer's. The severity of this disease can be clearly understood by the Bachchan's role. A small portion of this movie can bind someone to research about it. 

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DEAR ZINDAGI –  The movie by Gauri Shinde is great attempt by Bollywood to spell out depression and the stigma around it. In the movie Alia plays girl suffering from depression, a very common problem nowadays. Basically in this movie psychiatric sessions between SRK and Alia were in focus to bring causes, precautions and solutions to audiences. Alia, confronting her fear  and  struggle  to her parents at the climax was beautifully portrayed and was a sigh of relief.  Undoubtedly  these kind of movies are much needed now a days.

Source: The Indian Express

BARFI – Blockbuster movie featured Priyanka Chopra as a girl suffering from Autism, a developmental disorder that causes trouble while communication and social interaction. To enact such role on screen definitely was a tough task but the way Priyanka played it out was genius. Her repetitive behavior and trouble with a speech in the  movie clearly depict the reality of this disease. Besides this Ranbir's performance as a deaf and mute man was also a magical performance. 

Source: Hindustan Times

 KOI MIL GAYA – It is certainly one of the most creative and popular Bollywood film. The movie revolves around Rohit, a boy suffering from mental retardation and how his life turns around when an alien invasion happens in his small town. In this disorder, a child's brain does not develop properly which causes low IQ, learning, speech, social and physical disabilities. In this movie, Hrithik Roshan did justice to the role of the specially abled boy. Undoubtedly this movie created a special corner for such kind of children in the hearts of the audiences.

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ANJANA ANJANI – For an adult at some point, it becomes tough to tackle problems which tend to move us into depression. When we hold on to something terribly and not able to live our life freely it brings us down. It was all about this movie where two strangers suffering from depression with suicidal tendencies meet each other and decide to take their lives within 20 days. But eventually, when they start living together they get to know the better part of life and accept life as it was.

TAARE ZAMEEN PAR - A debut directorial for Aamir Khan and a fantastic performance by Darsheen Safari should have been reasons enough to remember this movie for a long time. But the best reason to recall it and be thankful for it is that it brought to light the problem of Dyslexia which a learning disorder and is more common than we ever thought. The spoke about the struggles of a child suffering from it and started a dialogue that brought change for the better.

Bollywood has made its own space in this zone and is continuously coming up with health-oriented films. Sometimes they fail to illustrate the issues and sometimes brilliantly succeed to set the viewers to connect with them.