Graphic violence in cinema: How much is too much?
From ‘The Paradise’ and ‘Ranabaali’ to ‘Toxic’, bloodshed and brutality are being packaged as heroism, while women and children pay the price
From ‘The Paradise’ and ‘Ranabaali’ to ‘Toxic’, bloodshed and brutality are being packaged as heroism, while women and children pay the price
Updated - October 31, 2026 01:56 pm IST
Nani in ‘The Paradise’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The men on the big screen are angry — at themselves, at those around them, and at the fate meted out to them. They seek redemption and tackle the world’s grandest problems, all while refusing to engage in self-introspection.
Centuries ago, William Shakespeare was renowned for the inventive ways his characters met their ends. Our filmmakers now seem to be in a contest to outdo him, using the choicest of weapons to kill people. The KGF franchise, Akhanda, Animal, and Dhurandhar have pushed the limits such that a mere act of violence is not enough. It has to be intoxicating, repulsive and mind-numbing at once.
Published - October 30, 2026 04:40 pm IST
The Hindu Weekend / The Hindu Cinema Plus / Telugu cinema / Tamil cinema
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