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Nothing bleak about Black
By JAVED ABIDI
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METRO PLUS takes disability activist Javed Abidi to a theatre to watch Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film "Black", centred around a physically challenged girl. He gives us his take on the film.
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A scene from the film "Black."
TILL THE interval, I was not so impressed with this film said to be the hit of the season. I was confused as to how the whole film was going to evolve. At places, I found it quite dramatised, particularly the scenes where Amitabh Bachchan slaps the small girl (played by Ayesha Kapur), drills manners into her, etc.
But the second part is mind-blowing. The best thing about it is that it does not preach anything. It has no loud emotions thrown in to reap sympathy, no long lectures on disability, no blatant messages, no intellectualising, no sermonising. In fact, it has all elements of entertainment defined in subtle humour, sibling rivalry, peer pressure, love and lust. That's why I feel the masses are thronging to cinema halls to watch it. I loved the dialogue in which Amitabh says, to make a living such special children are taught to weave durries, make chairs and candles.
It is one of the most powerful aspects of the film. You would say, what is so special about their education? But I would argue, how can you cage them in a special atmosphere when they have to come out, finally? I could also identify with it as I have been shouting from the rooftops that differently-abled children should not be taught in a different atmosphere because finally, they have to come out and compete with their so-called normal counterparts. But when such ideas are put before the public in such an effective manner through a larger-than-life medium, it is bound to leave an imprint. The scene where Amitabh gets lost leaving a visually impaired Rani Mukerjee to fend for herself is such a real-life portrayal! It can happen to anyone. So it proves that an artificial environment is artificial, however protective it is. In the film, Rani wants to study in a regular college. This urge is so common in differently-abled persons. I remember when I wanted to go to the U.S., my parents were aghast. They also had said, how would I survive? They had no confidence in me.
No overnight success
Javed Abidi is the Executive Director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People
The film has inspired me in the sense that Rani'sis a severe case of disability. So when such a person can achieve her goal in life, why not those with lesser disabilities? Bhansali has dealt with the most complicated issues in an extremely intricate manner.
He hasn't shown Rani as an extraordinarily talented girl who achieves her goal overnight by her hard work. She fails, falls, gives up and yet finally, achieves her goal (of becoming a graduate from a regular college) in a time span that such persons are most likely to take. I liked that scene in which the examiner snatches her copy when the time is over. And when she is asked to appear before a panel of experts for interview to get admission in a regular college.
I feel grateful to Bhansali for bringing such a subject to thesilver screen. But I am equally hurt to see that his associate Sangeeta Gala is not given her due share of publicity. I know Gala is deaf herself and she is not media shy. I believe she was his inspiration in Khamoshi - The Musical too. I met her in Jaipur four years ago in the Disabled People's International Meet of which she was the General Secretary. I have learnt that she has played a significant role in Devdas too. Nonetheless, the film is one of the greatest joys to have happened to me for the past many years.
As told to RANA SIDDIQUI
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