If someone has
a right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, does that person
also have a right to die? That is the issue around which the film Guzaarish (2010) revolves. The film seems to be
dealing with the subject of euthanasia. However, it is much more than that. It
raises several issues such as a person’s dignity to life, which also involves dignity
to die; not to mention the issue of putting an end to the prolonged suffering.
Director: Sanjay Leela Bansali
Film Clip
The protagonist
of the film Ethan Mascarenhas in his earlier days used to be a magician.
However, a near fatal accident de-capacitated him completely. He became paralysed,
save for his head. A dedicated nurse Sofia (Aishwarya Rai), just now makes sure
that Ethan lives with dignity. However, she is not able to reduce his mental
agony of being a vegetable from a state of country’s topmost magician. And this
leads him to make that tough decision to appeal for euthanasia. Heated
discussions within and outside court take place as regards the validity of the
appeal and the uniqueness of the case. All of that indeed makes for some very
exciting debating, besides stimulating the mind with nuanced insights. However,
the court cannot really break from the law of the land. Can it?
The film has
some very high octave performances by Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, besides others.
While the film itself is quite moving, making us see the point of the
protagonist, it sure leads us to some serious reflection. Of course only if we
go beyond the film’s exquisite embellishments of sets and costumes. Full marks
to Sanjay Leela Bansali!
- Melwyn Pinto SJ
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