kailash chandra.

When the wait for justice turns into vengeance: An exploration of society’s anger through two films—

special featureCinema is not just a medium of entertainment. Many times, he brings on the screen the anger, insecurity, distrust towards the justice system and human sensitivities that have been burning within the society for years in such a way that the viewer not only watches the story, but also feels himself standing inside it.

The recently popular film ‘Dhurandhar’ and the controversial ‘Citizen Vigilante’ are films of this categoryThe background of both is different, the characters are different and the social context is also different, but one question is equally present at the center of both – if the victim loses hope of getting justice, then can the vengeance born within him be understood only by calling it a crime?The height of suffering and the anger of a brotherEvents take a decisive turn in ‘Dhurandhar’ when goons from a politically influential family ruin the hero Jassi’s family. After the murder of his father, torture on his sisters and kidnapping of his younger sister, Jassi embarks on the path of revenge.There are many scenes of violence in the film, but their purpose is not just to show bloodshed, but to depict the mental state in which a person loses all the sensitivity left within him.Yet the film’s most poignant moment is not the violence, but the scene when Jassi reaches his captive younger sister. The sister’s suppressed screams and breaking of courage at the sight of her brother express the pain which does not require any communication.Similarly, after coming out of the court, Jassi’s words to his mother—”Fauj mein marta toh shaheed kehlata”—and his mother hugging him and calling him “Mera Fauji Bachcha” are among the most emotional scenes of the film. This scene tells that the decision of law and society has its place, but in the eyes of the mother, her son is still the same child whom she raised with her values.When trust in the system begins to break downOn the other hand, ‘Citizen Vigilante’ presents the frustrations arising from the justice system in a different social context. The story begins with a heinous sexual crime committed against a minor victim. After the court gives the accused a chance to reform, the central character of the film chooses the path of justice himself.

In the film he questions not only the criminals but also their families and their thinking. Themes such as crime, cultural conflict, migration, family values ​​and social responsibility emerge through the narrative.Although the film’s ideological stance is very clear and many critics have considered it one-sided and controversial, it nevertheless expresses the dissatisfaction that exists among a section of Western society that seems to be increasing regarding crime and the justice system.Cinema’s question, society’s answerThe biggest similarity between these two films is that their heroes feel helpless by the system. When trust in institutions weakens, they begin to see revenge as an alternative to justice.This is why the audience sometimes understands the characters’ anger, even if it does not agree with their methods.The work of cinema is not only to provide solutions but also to put difficult questions in front of the society. ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Citizen Vigilante’ do the same. She forces the audience to think that justice is not just a matter of courts but is also the basis of the moral belief of the society.

conclusionRevenge stories have always been fascinating because they bring together man’s most intense emotions—pain, humiliation, anger, and the desire for justice. But in real life, maintaining the distinction between justice and vengeance is the hallmark of a civilized society.That is why such films should not be seen only through the prism of action or violence, but also as documents of social psychology, which give expression to the questions and anger arising in the minds of people disappointed with the system.

By Manisha…