The Narratives of Othering: Representation and Intersection of Disability and Desire in Zero

Chitra Pachouri; N. Nagaraju

Authors

Chitra Pachouri Chitra Pachouri, Research Scholar, Department of English, Central University of Karnataka https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1992-1831
N. Nagaraju Vice-Chancellor of Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha

Abstract

Aim: This paper analyses the representation of disability in the Bollywood film Zero (2018), directed by Aanand L. Rai, by investigating its intersecting themes of vulnerability, romance, and disability. Its primary focus is on the portrayal of dwarfism via Bauua Singh (Shah Rukh Khan) and cerebral palsy through Aafia (Anushka Sharma). The paper addresses the exploitation of disability as a spectacle, while examining the societal and cultural perceptions of disability and desirability.

Methodology and Approach: The research employs an interdisciplinary framework, integrating Disability Studies and Feminist Theory, to examine the film's exploration of the intersections of disability, masculinity, and romance. Both primary and secondary sources are consulted to assess the film's representations of disabled characters and its adherence to prevailing social norms.

Outcome: The research concludes that although Zero strives to address disability, it frequently commodifies it for dramatic and narrative effect. The film highlights Bollywood's difficulty in reconciling entertainment with authentic representation of marginalized identities, emphasizing the pervasive ableism in mainstream cinema

Conclusion and Suggestion: Despite initiatives to portray disability, Zero highlights the ongoing conflict between inclusion and commercialization in Indian cinema. The research advocates for more nuanced and authentic representations of disability to confront prejudices and foster social awareness.

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Author Biographies

Chitra Pachouri, Chitra Pachouri, Research Scholar, Department of English, Central University of Karnataka

Aim: This paper analyses the representation of disability in the Bollywood film Zero (2018), directed by Aanand L. Rai, by investigating its intersecting themes of vulnerability, romance, and disability. Its primary focus is on the portrayal of dwarfism via Bauua Singh (Shah Rukh Khan) and cerebral palsy through Aafia (Anushka Sharma). The paper addresses the exploitation of disability as a spectacle, while examining the societal and cultural perceptions of disability and desirability.

Methodology and Approach: The research employs an interdisciplinary framework, integrating Disability Studies and Feminist Theory, to examine the film's exploration of the intersections of disability, masculinity, and romance. Both primary and secondary sources are consulted to assess the film's representations of disabled characters and its adherence to prevailing social norms.

Outcome: The research concludes that although Zero strives to address disability, it frequently commodifies it for dramatic and narrative effect. The film highlights Bollywood's difficulty in reconciling entertainment with authentic representation of marginalized identities, emphasizing the pervasive ableism in mainstream cinema

Conclusion and Suggestion: Despite initiatives to portray disability, Zero highlights the ongoing conflict between inclusion and commercialization in Indian cinema. The research advocates for more nuanced and authentic representations of disability to confront prejudices and foster social awareness.

N. Nagaraju, Vice-Chancellor of Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha

Dr. N. Nagaraju is professor of English at Central University of Karnataka, Gulbarga. He is currently on deputation as the Vice-Chancellor of Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha. Educated all through in Odisha, he has more than 37 years of teaching, research and administrative experience (of which twenty-two years as Professor). He has published research articles, books, supervised research scholars and attended several national and international conferences and seminars which include recent ones organized by South Asian Literary Association at Seattle, USA and Modern Language Association (MLA) at Glasgow, UK. His administrative experience includes stints as Head, Department of English for eleven years, Dean of Languages for about three terms of three years each, Registrar for two years, and In-charge Vice-Chancellor several times for short periods.

Chitra Pachouri is a doctoral research scholar at the Department of English, Central University of Karnataka, pursuing a PhD on Disability Representation in the Retellings of the Ramayana and Mahabharata: An Intersectional Study of Selected Texts. She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature from Jamia Millia University, New Delhi and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from University of Delhi, New Delhi. Her research interests include Disability Studies, Postcolonial Literature, and Indian Mythology. She has presented papers at national and international conferences and continues to contribute to discussions on inclusivity in literature and culture.