On-screen stories that normalize conversations about sex education
‘OMG-2’ and ‘Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon’ are just two examples of narratives that bravely broached this subject
According to the UNFPA (The United Nations Population Fund), India has the largest ever adolescent and youth population and will continue to have one of the youngest populations in the world till 2030. It is hence important to address challenges faced by the young connected to accessible health services, adolescent pregnancy, and sex education.
Over the years, many grassroots initiatives and government campaigns have attempted to inculcate awareness and spearhead positive change. Even stories on the big and small screen have strived to normalize conversations about taboo subjects like sexual and reproductive health, contraception, and sex education to catalyze change in society.
“OMG 2:”
In OMG 2, Kanti Sharan Mudgal (Pankaj Tripathi), a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, stumbles across a major problem when his son is accused of an obscene act in the school washroom and is caught in the storm of a major scandal. Mudgal realises that this situation has been caused by ignorance and the lack of sex education. He sues the school, and campaigns for the inclusion of sex education in academic syllabi. What follows is an enlightening courtroom drama that reveals both the prejudices of society and also the knowledge gaps that torment the young. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Yami Gautam, Pankaj Tripathi, and Aarush Varma. Watch the Amit Rai directorial on Netflix.
“Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon”
This widely watched edutainment series was created by Population Foundation of India in synergy with the National Adolescent Health program, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The most remarkable aspect of the show’s success was its fearless exploration of family planning methods, domestic violence, child marriage, unplanned pregnancies, and various dilemmas faced by adolescents. MKBKSH has successfully aired three seasons on Doordarshan reaching an impressive viewership of 150 million individuals, and went on to be telecast in West Asia, the Far East, Canada, and Europe. The radio adaptation of the series was broadcast on over 155 channels and Dr Sneha, the central character, became a harbinger of positive change across rural India. Additionally, an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) set up as part of the initiative received approximately 2.2 million calls from 400,000 unique numbers across 29 states during these three seasons. The show stars Vaibhavi Hankare, Meinal Vaishnav, Dadhey Pandey, Neelima and Vikrant Rai. Watch the Feroz Abbas Khan directorial on YouTube.
“Made In China”
On the surface, ‘Made In China’ appears to be a quirky comedy but dig deeper and this Mikhil Musale directorial talks about how sex education need not become a taboo topic. The film begins with Raghuveer Mehta (Rajkummar Rao), failing to make a success of his life but then shows how he eventually goes on to become the owner of a chain of sexual health-related clinics. The message audiences can glean from the story is that sex education is needed by all age groups. The comedy also stars Mouni Roy and Boman Irani. Watch it on Jio Cinema.
“Janhit Main Jaari”
It is not easy to broach subjects like bodily agency, safe sex and abortion in a mainstream film but ‘Janhit Main Jaari’ does exactly this in public interest. Manokamna Tripathi AKA Manu (Nushrratt Bharuccha), is a small-town girl who works as a sales representative at a local condom-making company. She battles many prejudices to win respectability for her job and eventually gets married to Ranjan (Anud Singh Dhaka). However, hell breaks loose when her in-laws come to know about her job. How she strikes a balance between what she must do and what her family expects of her, makes for a riveting watch. Directed by Jai Basantu Singh, the film addresses many serious issues with forthright simplicity. The film also stars Vijay Raaz, Tinnu Anand, Ishan Mishra, and Paritosh Tripathi. Watch it on ZEE5.
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