World Mental Health Day 2022: Dear Zindagi To Chhichhore, Bollywood Films That Dealt With The ‘Taboo Topic'

Recognising mental health is an important step to keeping your physical health and life in good shape. World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10. The objective of celebrating this day is to bring awareness to mental health, which is still considered taboo in many parts of the world, and mobilise significant efforts to tackle the ever rising health risk that often goes unnoticed.

Cinema, as a medium of communication, has the capacity to reach a larger section of the population. Many Hindi films have beautifully captured the nuances of this topic and addressed the underlying causes and issues with empathy. There have been multiple movies that have talked about mental health and opened the door to healthy discussion around it. Films such as Dear Zindagi and Chhichhore, among others, subtly highlighted the topic on a broader scale.

So, today we bring a list of a few Bollywood movies that shed light on the importance of mental health and the positive change it can bring in the society.

Dear Zindagi

Helmed by Gauri Shinde, this 2016 film starred Alia Bhatt in the lead role. It is the first ever film made in Bollywood that revolved around depression, therapy, and past-trauma. Kiara (Alia Bhatt) is a filmmaker who is unhappy with her life. She meets a psychologist, Dr. Jahangir Khan, 9shah Rukh Khan) who helps her find answers to life and the problems related to it. It's a well-narrated story that highlights how important it is to face your inner turbulence and patiently handle it.

Taare Zameen Par

Directed and produced by Aamir Khan Taare Zameen Par revolves around Ishaan (Darsheel Safary), an 8-year-old boy who suffers from dyslexia. This 2007 film also stars Tanay Chheda, Sachet Engineer, Vipin Sharma, and Tisca Chopra. Ishaan is sent to a boarding school by his parents, where he finds solace in his teacher, played by Khan. Although the film isn't entirely focused on mental illness, it's a hard-hitting story that shows how negligence regarding a child's mental status can seriously affect them. In the film, Khan helps Ishaan overcome his mental illness and triumph over his shortcomings.

Chhichhore

This late Sushant Singh Rajput and Shraddha Kapoor starrer had to be on our list of one of the best films that depicted social anxiety and exam stress. The film was a commentary on how kids are losing their minds due to high pressures from their parents and society. Chhichhore talked about preserving mental wellness and holding onto one's self-esteem even if we fail. It also stars Varun Sharma, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Naveen Polishetty, Tushar Pandey, and Saharsh Kumar Shukla. The film put forth serious social issues such as academic pressure, failure, and suicide.

Karthik Calling Karthik

Released in 2010, the film was ahead of its time. Starring Farhan Akhtar and Deepika Padukone in lead roles, Farhan is constantly insulted by his boss, who has suicidal tendencies and is troubled by his childhood experiences. Karthik suffers from schizophrenia, a mental disorder characterised by abnormal social behaviour and a failure to understand reality. However, Shonali Mukherjee, who played Deepika Padukone, his co-worker and lover, stands by him and helps him get therapy.

15 Park Avenue

This Aparna Sen story centres around Meethi, played by Konkona Sen Sharma, who suffers from schizophrenia. The film portrays the impact of schizophrenia on the patient and her relationships in a very realistic manner. Meethi is not married, yet feels that she has a husband and five kids who live at 15 Park Avenue in Kolkata. She has delusions and believes that her mother and sister are imprisoning her against her wish.