In brief
While severe air pollution poses a critical threat in India, particularly in Delhi, mainstream media and literature have yet to effectively address this pressing issue. Experts urge a shift in narrative to illuminate the lived experiences and health implications tied to toxic air.
In the critically acclaimed 2016 Bollywood film Pink, Amitabh Bachchan's character dons a mask as he steps into the polluted streets of Delhi, signaling a reality often ignored by Indian cinema. This depiction is a rarity in a landscape where severe air pollution becomes a significant health concern, especially during the winter months, but rarely manifests in storytelling with the same urgency as other disasters, like devastating floods. Siddharth Singh, author of The Great Smog of India, critiques this gap in cultural awareness, calling it a "big failure" that pollution is largely absent from both literature and film narratives.Many writers and filmmakers are locked in a battle with a detached public when it comes to expressing the dire consequences of air quality. Environmental narratives exist predominantly within academic circles, making it difficult for the general populace to engage with these "invisible" battles. Amitav Ghosh, in The Great Derangement, reflects on societal complacency towards climate change, remarking how it blends into normalcy rather than provoking action or awareness.Amidst these observations, some filmmakers are starting to make an impact. The 2022 documentary All That Breathes follows the journey of two brothers rehabilitating black kites in polluted Delhi, revealing the human-animal relationship within the ecosystem affected by pollution. Director Shaunak Sen aims to connect grand environmental themes with personal stories. He believes awareness can be discreetly woven into narrative structures, rather than delivering overwhelming guilt to audiences.Filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda has been proactive in this space, narrating climate stories through mainstream cinema, including his courtroom drama Megha's Divorce. He reflects on the stark contrasts between the natural beauty of his native Odisha and the polluted chaos of Delhi. Despite his focus on climate issues, Panda highlights the necessity of making narratives entertaining to resonate with broader audiences.The documentary and fiction landscapes feature some exploration of these themes, but much remains uncharted territory. Recent memes and social media posts have emerged as grassroots methods to encapsulate the severity of pollution. Singh emphasizes the need for genuine storytelling, stating, "We read headlines of millions dying from pollution, but where are their stories?"As the alarm bells of air pollution ring louder, the cultural narratives being spun around these issues remain insufficient. Experts like Singh hope for a future where creative expressions become a catalyst for change, igniting public awareness and inspiring action from those in power. Without this shift, the narrative surrounding India's air quality crisis risks remaining unheard in the larger story of societal struggles.
