Soupçon III In Memoriam Series VI.x
Let us in this final note discuss the much analysed 'politics' of this highly impactful film. Undoubtedly, the film is a strong exposé if the notion of " honour killing." Unfortunately, this horrible practice continues to be prevalent even now, exactly a decade later.
Well, in such a context, what sullies the family honour? Tough to decide! Is it the parental anger basically that the kid no longer cares for the parental structures/strictures? Undoubtedly, the hurt ego of an autocratic parent, mostly a father, who cares for 'his' social image is THE base of an honour killing, I suppose.
The gut reaction would also be that the cruelty of the honour killing , especially in this film, comes from the difference in the family status, right? It is so very obvious in the film. Basically, hence, it IS a class issue. The film, undoubtedly, has the 'rich girl poor guy' narrative, even when it is not as crude as in a typical Bollywood film. Noteworthy is the fact that there is no societal pressure tactics in the form of a " (caste) panchayat", for instance.
Difficult it is to argue that the film depicts the honour killing, central to the very narrative, as a caste issue. Sure, Archie and Parshya do belong to different castes, and his caste, undoubtedly, is not as high in the hierarchy as hers is. Yet, even in the film, the characters, too, talk more of the economic rather than the social difference between the couple.
Very rarely is caste the central thrust of a (Bollywood-ish) film narrative, anyway. May be, the triple entertainment motto would get much too very serious, nay, "boring", if such an issue is opened up in a film. Given the box office returns as a major concern, most directors would sugar-coat the pill, reduced to its minimum most size/valency, right? No exception is "Sairat" which is more a psychological analysis of 'honour killing', which, too, is no mean treat! Long live this quite honest exposé of a serious crime!
Pratima Agnihotri
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