The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : At film festival valedictory, stress on awareness

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Monday, Oct 13, 2008
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At film festival valedictory, stress on awareness

Staff Reporter

Quality films are about “educating people without making it educational”

— Photo: R. Ragu

WINNER: Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt (second from left), presenting the first prize in the short film competition to Mangesh Joshi at a function in Chennai on Sunday. R. Thara, Director of SCARF (left), and Rajiv Rajgopal, Airtel CEO, Chennai and TN, are in the picture.

CHENNAI: Quality films are about “educating people without making it educational,” said Dinesh Bhugra, president, Royal College of Psychiatrists, United Kingdom.

Awareness is crucial, he said, highlighting the need to know more about the social and psychological stress that leads to mental illnesses.

He was speaking at the valedictory function of ‘Frame of Mind’, a film festival on mental health, organised by Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) here on Sunday.

“If you know someone close who has mental health issues, seek help. There is no need to be ashamed of it,” Dr. Bhugra said “We owe it to the times we live in,” said filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. Given the pressure of modern life, he said, the future was not going to be easy for many of us. In such a situation, it is all the more crucial that those who are vulnerable are offered help.

Talking about the portrayal of mental health in films, Mr. Bhatt said that barring a few exceptions, the mainstream Bollywood had been rather insensitive to important aspects of mental health. As those who controlled images also controlled culture, the message needed to be carried across responsibly.

At a panel discussion following the screening of ‘Woh Lamhe,’ a movie drawn out of Mr. Bhatt’s personal experiences, Mr. Bhatt said cinema would portray a “comfortable truth set to soft music in the background,” as no one had the capacity to confront the naked truth.

Though there may be bad films, the audience should be able to discern the good from the bad, “just as you would know nutritious food from junk,” said Dr. Mohan Agashe, an actor and psychiatrist. Speaking about the power of good films, he said: “What professionals have been trying to do for 25 years to sensitise parents to dyslexia, ‘Taare Zameen Par’ achieved.” There was a dramatic change in the attitude of parents. Those who said they did not have the time started volunteering for workshops.

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