Harish Rana’s family in Haryana breathed relief as the Supreme Court approved passive euthanasia for their loved one, in coma since 2013. This compassionate nod to halting life-sustaining measures has thrust euthanasia back into the national conversation.
Indian cinema mirrors society’s moral wrestling with euthanasia, through tales that honor patient agency, expose caregiver trauma, and interrogate right-to-die laws. The Rana case has audiences revisiting these evocative masterpieces.
‘ Shायद’ (1979), directed by Madan Bhavaria, set the precedent as India’s euthanasia opus. Nita Mehta’s tormented protagonist demands release from terminal pain, supported by an all-star lineup: Vijayendra Ghatge, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Simi Garewal, Iftekhar, Achyut Potdar, and more. Its courtroom intensity questioned life’s imposed prolongation, influencing debates for generations.
Bhansali’s ‘Guzaarish’ (2010) mesmerizes with Hrithik Roshan as Ethan, a former illusionist paralyzed post-accident, seeking euthanasia via courts. Aishwarya Rai and Aditya Roy Kapur co-star in this symphony of sorrow and defiance, delicately balancing spectacle with substance on bodily autonomy.
‘Salaam Venky’ (2022), Revathi’s true-story adaptation, features Kajol and Vishal Jethwa in a heartrending depiction of Venky’s ALS battle and euthanasia litigation. It underscores emotional family dynamics and societal evolution toward accepting dignified exits.
Chetan Shah’s documentary ‘Passive Euthanasia – Kahani Karuna Ki’ (2014) pivots on Aruna Shanbaug, whose 2011 verdict legalized the practice. Advocating living wills, it humanizes the mercy in letting go.
These cinematic milestones don’t just narrate; they catalyze change, blending storytelling with a clarion call for humane end-of-life policies.