Responsibility, while a simple word to understand, carries a weight that feels far heavier when placed in the context of filmmaking. I often find myself wondering, can one truly stay neutral while constructing a film?
Filmmaking may appear glamorous from the outside, but it is deeply deliberate. Every frame is thought through, every moment shaped with intention. And if that is the case, then the idea that a filmmaker’s personal beliefs, experiences, and inner framework do not find their way into their work feels almost implausible to me. A film, in that sense, is never truly neutral, it only creates the illusion of being so. As Martin Scorsese said, “we cannot have a future of cinema without understanding its past”. I feel the same extends to the filmmaker, because what we carry within us inevitably reflects in what we create.
When I look at popular films, I can’t help but notice how often certain behaviours are framed in ways that make them feel acceptable, even desirable. In Dabangg, a police officer’s disregard for the law is presented with charm and heroism. In Raanjhanaa, persistence in love crosses into discomfort, yet is still romanticized. Even films like Dil packaged teasing and harassment as flirtation, something that was widely accepted at the time. I also think about how song lyrics over the years have contributed to objectifying women, often under the guise of entertainment. These choices may seem subtle, but together they shape what we begin to accept as normal. Cinema, in that way, doesn’t just reflect society, it participates in shaping it. At the same time, when films deal with sensitive subjects, the impact feels even more significant. The Kashmir Files, for instance, brings attention to a painful reality, but it also makes me question whether narratives like these carry an added responsibility in how they present perspective, especially when they can influence how entire communities are perceived.
Sometimes, the intention of a filmmaker is quite different from how it is interpreted by the audience as well. For instance, if after watching a film like Gangs of Wasseypur or a show like Mirzapur, if people go and start forming gangs and shooting people, would it be considered the irresponsible portrayal of a plot by the filmmaker or some other larger issue? The collective consciousness of the society stands to question in such matters. Films like The Godfather and Scarface from the West can be deemed as showcasing Mafia or the drug world as normal and cinematic to mislead the audience into carving that kind of world for themselves. Can you keep blaming the filmmaker for making films, which is well within their right? What is the fine line between blaming the filmmaker and questioning the society’s interpretation? Satyajit Ray, talking about the audience, had said, “The Indian audience is fairly backward in its appreciation of cinema.” He wasn’t being dismissive of the audience, he was pointing out the limited exposure of cinema that the audience had been privy to, from where the lack of such understanding stems from. The growth of a person depends on a variety of factors, not just films. Upbringing, education, social environment, and more contribute to shaping a person. Why then are filmmakers at the helm of the heat?
What was considered normal in a different era some twenty years back might be termed as irresponsible in today’s era. With more knowledge and information about there being more than one gender and so many more sexual orientations, and while all this has always been normal, only now are people coming to terms with the normality of it all and understanding the inherent nature of everybody, not just themselves. Films that had humorous and stereotypical representation of LGBTQIA+ community, for instance, David Dhawan’s Partner, would not be laughed at in a group in today’s day and age. Even films that supported Congress in any way are highly criticized today. The perception and the responsibility attached to a film also changes with different eras over time. The same way, what might be celebrated today, chances are will be criticized tomorrow.
Everyone’s inner compass is quite different. What you stand for might not be what I stand for. Even within the left-wing and right-wing ideology, there is divide and difference of stance. One grows up with an ideology or changes due to circumstances around them, but it’s a quite personal journey where one also finds oneself more. Now, can that personal connection be broken with the magic wand of a filmmaker? Can the filmmaker impose or invade the collective consciousness of society? What it can manage to do is uproot what is already there. It can provide a nudge, a push. However, is it possible to cater to every individual in that way when talking about responsibility?
It’s every filmmaker’s right to make the kind of film that they want to make without feeling like they have to censor themselves in any way. There can be a meaningful distinction between portraying dark characters and intentionally glorifying them. Exploring difficult or unsettling subjects is an important part of storytelling, but the way these themes are handled becomes of utmost importance. Some level of responsibility naturally becomes part of the process, one that doesn’t necessarily have to limit creativity, but can instead provide clarity and purpose to it. Ultimately, while facts and perspectives may exist, the choices a filmmaker makes remain deeply personal and free.
The injustice is not in one place. The injustice is not one institution. Unfairness roots from everywhere, from home, from corporate jobs, from educational systems, from politics, from literally everywhere. The reason that we mostly talk about a filmmaker’s responsibility is because films have been a part of our culture, films are constantly in the public eye, and what’s famous, sells. How much should a filmmaker truly contemplate before landing on an idea? Should they censor themselves way before the censor board can? Does the burden seem unfair or is it just? Is it fair that the dilemma is only on the filmmakers? Should society not collectively hold some responsibility for the values they hold? I’ll leave you to ponder and decide for yourself. In my opinion, however much one disagrees with another’s opinion, democracy should never be conditional.
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