When Heroism Turns Gruesome
From pregnant women being tortured to graphic childbirth scenes, filmmakers are pushing the boundaries of on-screen brutality. Director Teja and producer Lagadapati Sridhar weigh in on the growing reliance on shock value
On-screen violence is getting increasingly graphic, with filmmakers seemingly willing to go to any lengths to shock audiences. From pregnant women being tortured to gruesome childbirth sequences, recent films raise questions about how far cinematic brutality should go in the name of heroism.
Nani’s The Paradise features a pregnant woman being subjected to electric shocks and forced to deliver, while Jailer 2 has a disturbing sequence in which a pregnant woman is tortured by having her legs caned.
“These are truly inhuman acts, and we shouldn’t encourage extreme violence in movies,” says director Teja. He points out that Rajinikanth, despite being an action star for four decades, largely avoided such graphic violence for much of his career.
“It was shocking to see him sever a thug’s head in Jailer. The portrayal of heroism is becoming increasingly disturbing and unhealthy,” he adds.
Ranabaali, too, features disturbing scenes involving pregnant women. In one, a baby is delivered by cutting into the mother’s abdomen without anaesthesia, resulting in her death. Another shows a pregnant woman giving birth while standing and bleeding heavily.
“Such depictions cross the line of acceptable screen violence. Directors need to find new ways to showcase heroism,” Teja says.
Producer Lagadapati Sridhar, however, feels it is unfair to blame any one film for the growing trend.
“I don’t think we should blame KGF or Toxic for the growing violence in South Indian films. Hollywood films are also loaded with action, but the sequences are often well choreographed and stylishly captured, making them convincing on screen. Our filmmakers sometimes lack that finesse,” he says.
Sridhar believes the race to deliver bigger, more spectacular hero moments is pushing filmmakers towards increasingly graphic action, sometimes at the expense of visual finesse.
He also points to the influence of video games, many of which feature stylised, graphic violence. “Violence in video games has long been debated for its possible influence on aggressive behaviour among children and young people. Films, too, need to exercise some restraint,” he concludes.
Such depictions cross the line of acceptable screen violence. Directors need to find new ways to showcase heroism”
— Teja, Director
Highlight: Race to deliver spectacular hero moments is pushing filmmakers towards Ever more graphic action.