#doori

January 1, 2019

by Inakshi Chandra-Mohanty

1. The Sky is Pink - Ishaan at the Train Station

Ishaan Chaudhary gets a call from his sister, Aisha, when she is at her most helpless. Not much older than her, Ishaan is at a young age where his understanding of death may not be as mature as that of his parents. Till now, we have not seen how he is dealing with his younger sister’s illness and imminent death. In this scene, when Aisha calls up in tears, Ishaan’s first instinct as an elder brother is to be supportive. To reassure her, he tells that in their next life, through reincarnation they will all be reunited once again. He wants to be there for her, but inside, he is falling apart. As soon as she hangs up, he breaks down. All the pain, anger, sadness bursts out in the moment as he smashes his bag on the ground. In front of his parents and sister, he has to project himself as a strong individual. But in reality he is suffering as much as they are. The frustration builds inside him as he maintains composure in front of his family. And finally, in this scene, he lets it all out. The love between two siblings is rarely explored in films. This scene is so fresh and unique that it ultimately becomes the most emotional scene in the film. And without Rohit Saraf’s brilliant acting as the loving brother, this scene would have not been as passionate and impactful as it became.

2. Gully Boy - Doori Poem

While Gully Boy is at its core a film about a rapper’s rise to fame, it is also a commentary on the politics of modern society. The scene in which the Doori poem is recited in the background as Murad drives the car is the most socially relevant scene in the film. It brings out the brutal class divide omnipresent in Indian society. Murad and his passenger are both around the same age, in the same car, with a physical distance of a few feet, yet they are distant from each other. Her tears moved Murad, but his position as a driver prevented him from providing her with any comfort. He doesn’t have the aukaat (status) to help her and thus he continues to drive in silence. This strikes a chord with audience, some who are either of Murad’s status, or those who identify with the young woman. As passengers, people barely take notice of those in the driver’s seat, because there is an unspeakable divide that is difficult to bridge. And that’s what Murad uses as inspiration for the lyrics of his next song. The lines of the poem resonate well with the context. Kahne ko hum paas hai par, kitni doori hai, yeh bhi kaisi majboori hai….main yeh behte aasun pochun, itni meri aukaat nahin hai. They are close, yet they are far. And the barrier between them renders them helpless.

3. Soni - Conversation about Soni’s Misconduct

Soni is a film about women empowerment. But it isn’t just about women going up against men who knowingly discriminate against them. It is also about women facing small instances of prejudice even from somewhat progressive men. In this scene, Kalpana is having dinner with her family, as her husband and brother-in-law discuss Soni’s misconduct. It is clear from their casual tone that they find her aggressive behavior hilarious. According to them, women who behave in this manner come from violent homes. To them, it’s just a simple case of a woman who has faced violence at home leading to her relieving her frustrations at work. These two new-age men, sitting at a table with a female police officer, talk about women in such a stereotypical, mildly sexist manner. Even though Kalpana believes Soni’s actions crossed the line, she also attempts to understand the frustration that leads her to behave in a certain manner, which is why she remains silent at the table, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her husband and brother-in-law. This scene shows the inherent sexism that seeps into modern families as well. There is blatant sexism everywhere, and that is easily recognizable. But, this hypocrisy and subtle patriarchy, exists in many homes, and is much more difficult to notice. And this scene makes us aware of it.

4. Section 375 - Food as a Metaphor for Justice

In this scene from Section 375, lawyer Tarun Saluja uses food as an analogy for the legal system, while explaining the intricacies of law to his former student, now opposing lawyer, Hiral Gandhi. This film, which deals with the twisted ways of the law, is summed up in this one scene. Tarun equates the different parts of the legal system, with different food items on the table. The dal is the prosecutor, trying to win in order to gain a promotion or a pay hike. The rice is the defense, trying to win for the fame, leading to a rise in fees. The next container is the judge, trying to win to reach a higher position in the court system, and get the opportunity to present landmark judgments. And the dahi is justice, which is forgotten in everyone else’s race for victory. The message that he attempts to convey is that everyone is in it for his/her own personal benefit. The courtroom is a battlefield for ambition, where the ideal is left far behind. That is core theme of the film. The absolute law, and ambitious professionals in the field, can lead to justice being left behind.

5. Article 15 - Asking about Caste