Movies and their Depiction of Mental Health
Recently, I felt a sudden urge to rewatch the original horror movie Bhool Bhulaiyaa, specifically the first one released in the early 2000s. Most of us, myself included, tend to view this movie strictly through the lens of the horror genre. However, a little birdie suggested a different perspective. My inner "psychology fanatic" came to life, and I started analyzing the film while wearing my “Freud glasses” (a.k.a., my psychology glasses).
The main protagonist is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). But in the rulebook of therapy, in order to be accurately diagnosed with a “psychological disorder’’, proper case history taking is essential, along with psychological assessments. However, the main highlight of the movie isn’t the “so-called diagnosis,” but rather how the psychiatrist uses hypnotherapy to treat DID. I mean, I understand the movie's main genre is comedy, but the sarcasm surrounding the portrayal of psychiatrists as “doctors treating mad people,” along with the multiple references to this idea, is just not appropriate. Don’t you think?
So how about we analyze some movies with this pointer “whether mental health is being portrayed in the right manner or not”? Instead of simply identifying each character and speculating about which mental health disorders they might be diagnosed with, I’d like to take a closer look at how our beloved Indian movies—of which I am a huge fan—portray mental health.
Starting with an oldie but a goldie movie, remember that one movie in Bollywood which was released in the year 2007 (yes it was legit 17 years back), which was none other than “Taare Zameen Par’’, a simple yet hard-hitting movie about a kid diagnosed with“Dyslexia”. This is a “learning disability’’ that is usually detected in the early stages of a child’s life, wherein they have difficulties ranging from single word decoding to spelling and writing. For a kid watching this movie, the way this learning disability was portrayed was rather very creative, if I may say so. The hardships that the protagonist goes through are due to his family's inability to understand that he has a learning disability.
So how was mental health portrayed in this movie?
Right from the start, we can see that the father was very distant from the younger child (Ishaan), and no matter what he did, he could never get the love and affection from his father. The fact that he wasn’t diagnosed or even recognised with the symptoms of dyslexia shows the lack of awareness starting from the school itself. Usually, when a child is not faring that well in school, the blame directly goes to the student and their family for not supporting them.
So the lack of a counselor in the school, along with the family being unaware of his condition acts as a contributing factor in this movie and the school led to this child being sent to a boarding school, did not make his life any better. But then comes in the famous Art Teacher, who in Bollywood terms enters as a “ray of sunshine” and empathizes with Ishaan rather just like a counselor. So what would be the missing piece in this movie then? Correct answers only.
ANSWER: A school Counselor/psychologist. And now thankfully, all educational systems have started incorporating mental health professionals.
It’s said that college is a time that never comes back, and it is one of the most enjoyable moments of your life. So was the movie “Chhichhore” right? It was so wholesome yet tragic to watch at the same time. The struggles and the fun that college students have with and without the parental pressures, just made us feel at home right? The protagonist’s son, just like any other IIT aspirant, couldn’t make it through the first time, and he attempts to TW- Suicide.
Now yes, there were also different kinds of familial problems that this young adult was going through, so does it mean that parental pressure is so normalized in India that we tend to risk our own kid’s life for the same? So question over here as well, what could have been an alternative ending to this movie?
The film hints at familial stress but doesn’t go deeper into the psychological impact of such pressures. What would have changed if, when the parents reminisced about their own college experiences, they could also have suggested seeking therapy or talking to a counselor? Chhichhore asks us to reconsider the way we approach failure and success, especially when it comes to our children’s mental health. A culture where students are encouraged to seek support and embrace vulnerability—without fear of disappointing their parents—could help prevent such tragedies.
I recently had a conversation with one of my supervisors at my internship. They mentioned that it’s not always necessary to follow the “rulebook” of psychology. While there’s no harm in adhering to it, the real question is: What do we, as future mental health professionals, want to prioritize?
The overall betterment of our clients—helping them excel and improve their lives (by bending the rules here and there, without causing harm, of course).
Or…Following the “rulebook” of therapy, which, though not problematic, can sometimes feel a bit too conventional.
So, would I—or, for that matter, any other mental health professional—get into trouble by choosing the former? It’s a tricky question, but in my opinion, the answer is a resounding “NO.” It seems that this is exactly what our dear Dr. Jehangir from Dear Zindagidid, and he completely or at least partially helped Kiara (the protagonist) heal themselves, and made them come to terms with their past.
Therapy doesn’t always have to take place in a “set space.” In fact, a therapy session can happen anywhere—whether it’s taking a stroll on the beach, cycling on an open road, or even wearing funky glasses while doing it! After all, how important is the location, as long as the client feels, if not fully, at least partially comfortable enough to open up to you (the therapist)?
So, does the place really matter when it comes to helping clients heal? Think about it. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
To wrap it up, I’m glad to see that mental health is slowly making its way into the movie industry. However, I have a sincere request to all the upcoming movie directors, actors, and everyone involved: In the future, please portray the life of a mental health professional as realistically as possible. After all, while fun and games can be a part of the story, mental health deserves to be treated with the seriousness and respect it deserves.
