Times when Indian Cinema stood against LKK syndrome

While three-fourth of the younger population in other nations are struggling with issues like teenage pregnancy and drug addiction, the youth of our country are still stuck behind the social barriers restricting them from living the life of their choice. This crisis has often served as the plot for many Indian movies.

Cinema is a vast mass media and has an immensely wide reach. Many times, Indian cinema has made several attempts (mostly successful ones) in speaking against the odds. These odds can be summarized as an Indian citizen’s uncanny obsession with other people’s judgment; in simple words- “Log kya kahenge”.

For years “Log kya kahenge” has been a medicine shoved down every Indian youth’s throat. Dress, education, gender, or even sexuality; when a choice regarding these has to be made the patients of LKK syndrome place the opinions of others in the first place rather than their own personal interests.

Let’s have a look at some selected movies that spoke against India’s obsession with LKK syndrome and went on to inspire and motivate young minds.

1.   3 IDIOTS (2009 Hindi) 

The first film that pops up in my mind while thinking of LKK syndrome is 3 Idiots. Even though the movie deals with the various educational dilemmas in our country, the segment where Farhan Qureshi (played by R.Madhavan) confronts his parents to choose a profession he likes agrees more with our discussion. A truly inspiring and emotional scene, it persuades us to do what we love rather than love what we do no matter what others say.

The first Indian film to cross 300 crores, 3 idiots received a deserved victory at the box office and is cited as a movie that every Indian should watch once in their lifetime.

2. GODHA (2017 Malayalam)

3. DEAR ZINDAGI (2017 Hindi)

I bet you won’t open up about your depression or any other mental illness in a country like India because if you do so you would be declared “mad”. The same “log kya kahenge”  story forces a decent percentage of the population to live silently with their worries, anxieties and depression leading to a more stressful life.

Beautifully directed by the ace director Gauri Shinde, Dear Zindagi opens up about mental health taboos prevailing in our country and convinces us that it is no sin to speak up about our worries. Above all, it’s a film that encourages us to love our life. Alia Bhatt too was successful in representing a perplexing youth of our country dealing with anxiety issues. The one thing we all want after watching this movie is a personal “Dr. Jug”!

4. ALIGARH (2015 Hindi)

Based on the life of professor Ramachandra Siras (played by Manoj Bajpayee) who was expelled from his workplace on the account of being homosexual, Aligarh throws light on how society sees and treats a person with a different sexual orientation. There are still many in our country who fear admitting their sexuality fearing what others may say or think. Aligarh is a man’s struggle to earn back both his lost job and respect in society.

5. AREKTI PREMER GOLPO (2010 Bengali)