It's over two weeks since I went to see a Marathi movie 'Y' with my colleagues. Honestly, like many others I wouldn't even have known about this wonderful movie had my friend not recommended it.
Wedded to reality, the film is a stark representation of female foeticide, a dreaded as well as a much talked about subject.
In a world which appears equal, preference for the male child are usually covert. Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques PCPNDT or sex determination tests are prohibited and a criminal offence as per law. However there are veiled instances of this gruesome act.
Medical termination of pregnancy ( MTP )is permitted only on medical grounds if approved by a doctor.
At the centre stage of 'Y' is a hospital run by a machiavellian gynaecologist who professes to be a commited medical practitioner. Under the garb of managing a renowned hospital MTPs are done for couples who do not want a female child. PCPNDT being banned indications of a girl foetus are covert.
Things are hunky dory for Dr. Purushottam Gaikwad ( played with panache by actor, Nandu Madhav ) till Dr Aarti Deshmukh ( peformed effortlessly Mukta Barve), a government medical officer is appointed to investigate and take action against hospitals and doctors involved in illegal practices. Smelling a rat, Aarti makes several attempts to unravel the truth and meets with staunch opposition from all quarters.
Despite all odds and with the support of her team, she continues with her mission exposing many malpractices in the medical and pharmacetical fields ultimately winning the battle.
There are a number of reasons why one must watch 'Y'. First and foremost it is a well-made film on a topic which has been handled sensitively and sensibly. Of course the matter-of-fact details hit you so much that your stomach may churn at the cold-blooded manner in which the medical processes are conducted. Yet the movie drives home several points including the attitude of the family members, both male and female in context to their perpetual desire for sons. A conversation with the doctor substantiates this when he says that no doctor goes to any house asking whether he should reveal the gender of the unborn child, nor does he want to kill it if it is a female. The family, society and the parents of the unborn child are primarily responsible for it as well as the prevalence of female foeticide.
One must also watch 'Y' as it strongly puts forth the point that the 'Y' chromosome which determines the sex of a child is from the male and not the female who has only 'X' chromosomes. Yet it is a woman who has to bear the brunt of conceiving a girl child and is always at the receiving end. The title of the film has been subtly and suitably named keeping that in mind.
All actors are flawless in their performance but Mukta stands apart. She struggles to reveal the truth and fight her own fear of dogs. The torch in her hand at climax as she overcomes her cynophobia drives home many facts. Perhaps that is the most important reason why one must watch 'Y' .
P.S. My desire to write this blog came up as among the hundred committees headed by me as Collector there is a committe for effective implementation of PCPNDT 2003. Surprisingly none of the medical fraternity in that meeting had heard about this film. I hope many people see this film, so this blog. Coincidentally Hindi potboiler, 'Jayeshbhai Jordar' made in a typically Bollywood style also centres around this subject....
At the centre stage of 'Y' is a hospital run by a machiavellian gynaecologist who professes to be a commited medical practitioner. Under the garb of managing a renowned hospital MTPs are done for couples who do not want a female child. PCPNDT being banned indications of a girl foetus are covert.
Things are hunky dory for Dr. Purushottam Gaikwad ( played with panache by actor, Nandu Madhav ) till Dr Aarti Deshmukh ( peformed effortlessly Mukta Barve), a government medical officer is appointed to investigate and take action against hospitals and doctors involved in illegal practices. Smelling a rat, Aarti makes several attempts to unravel the truth and meets with staunch opposition from all quarters.
Despite all odds and with the support of her team, she continues with her mission exposing many malpractices in the medical and pharmacetical fields ultimately winning the battle.
There are a number of reasons why one must watch 'Y'. First and foremost it is a well-made film on a topic which has been handled sensitively and sensibly. Of course the matter-of-fact details hit you so much that your stomach may churn at the cold-blooded manner in which the medical processes are conducted. Yet the movie drives home several points including the attitude of the family members, both male and female in context to their perpetual desire for sons. A conversation with the doctor substantiates this when he says that no doctor goes to any house asking whether he should reveal the gender of the unborn child, nor does he want to kill it if it is a female. The family, society and the parents of the unborn child are primarily responsible for it as well as the prevalence of female foeticide.
One must also watch 'Y' as it strongly puts forth the point that the 'Y' chromosome which determines the sex of a child is from the male and not the female who has only 'X' chromosomes. Yet it is a woman who has to bear the brunt of conceiving a girl child and is always at the receiving end. The title of the film has been subtly and suitably named keeping that in mind.
All actors are flawless in their performance but Mukta stands apart. She struggles to reveal the truth and fight her own fear of dogs. The torch in her hand at climax as she overcomes her cynophobia drives home many facts. Perhaps that is the most important reason why one must watch 'Y' .
P.S. My desire to write this blog came up as among the hundred committees headed by me as Collector there is a committe for effective implementation of PCPNDT 2003. Surprisingly none of the medical fraternity in that meeting had heard about this film. I hope many people see this film, so this blog. Coincidentally Hindi potboiler, 'Jayeshbhai Jordar' made in a typically Bollywood style also centres around this subject....
