5 characters in Indian films that normalised mental health and seeking help from 'brain doctor'

You are often shushed when you talk about mental health as it is considered a stigma in society, even in the 21st Century. The issue of mental health is often underrepresented even in the mainstream media, until recently.

Indian cinema started portraying characters suffering from mental health issues, creating mass awareness, breaking stereotypes, and busting myths surrounding it, since few years back. Be it Kiara from Dear Zindagi or Saji from Kumbalangi nights, the characters have succeeded in conveying how important mental and emotional well-being is and how harmful it can get, if not identified on time.

Here is a list of five beautiful characters from Indian cinema that bust the myths about mental health.

Ramesan in Thanmathra

When one talks about mental health, they often do not mention the trauma and difficulties faced by the families with people suffering from mental health issues. But the 2005 film Thanmathra not only addresses such families’ plights but also creates awareness about Alzheimer’s disease through the character of Ramesan Nair, played by Mohanlal. The story takes the audience alongside him in his journey of memory loss and makes them empathise with his character when he is diagnosed with the neurological disorder. The film features the actor’s incredible performance as a patient, the mental trauma and insecurities of his family that include his wife and two young children, how they adjust to the new circumstances and get through the situation.

Ishaan in Taare Zameen Par

The character of Ishaan Awasthi in the film Taare Zameen Par has left an unforgettable experience for the Indian audience. Darsheel Safary who played the character of a dyslexic student has perfected the role in all levels, and portrayed the reality of the learning disorder, seen mostly in children. Even though the Department of Biotechnology estimates that nearly 35 million children in the country are thought to have this learning disability, not many were aware of it until the character gained popularity. The film depicts how children with dyslexia are targeted and bullied by their own families, teachers and friends.

Kiara in Dear Zindagi

One of the most-discussed characters while talking about representation on mental health is Alia Bhatt’s Kiara from Dear Zindagi. She portrays a character suffering from anxiety and depression. The film, through the character, raises many stereotypical responses one gets when they talk about having mental health issues: ‘You have everything in life, why aren’t you still happy?’. She loudly states that mental illness is a real situation and bottling up emotions and traumas since childhood could be a reason for it. She also normalises the need for therapy and shows how helpful and regular it is to consult a ‘brain doctor’.

Harikrishnan in North 24 Kaatham

Fahadh Faasil’s character Hari from North 24 Kaatham is one of his career defining roles as well as a rare addressal on mental awareness. Hari has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and the movie realistically approaches the struggles of an OCD patient. The movie also shows how the disorder could affect the person and the people around him. The actor’s outstanding adaptation of the character made the struggle of an OCD patient even more real and conveyed the message even more effectively.

Saji in Kumbalangi Nights

The Madhu C Narayanan directorial which speaks about four brothers, has created a cult with its diversity of characters and realistic portrayal of them. Saji, played by Soubin Shahir is a titular character who portrays a raw and real picture of depression, and how helpless one could feel while suffering from it. The film further shows how it can affect one’s personal relationships. Saji sets an example for the audience that it is okay to seek professional help for mental health issues, by voluntarily seeking medical help in the film. The character stands out in terms of the addressal and treatment of one of the most common, but underestimated diseases and normalised addressing depression and recovering from it with a doctor’s help, which is rarely seen in Malayalam cinema.