In today's world, we continually grapple with the questions of safety and empowerment for women. The 2014 Indian film "Highway," directed by Imtiaz Ali, provides a compelling narrative that challenges our understanding of these issues. The film's narrative offers a moving prism through which we can study the numerous risks females must overcome and the complex dynamics of safety in a patriarchal culture.
The plot of "Highway" centers on the voyage of Veera Tripathi (Alia Bhatt), a young lady kidnapped a few days before her wedding. Randeep Hooda's character, Mahabir Bhati, is an experienced crook with a terrible background who abducted her. Veera's terrible encounter turns into a life-changing event as she ironically discovers freedom from her kidnapper and the wide road that she has never felt. The film skillfully examines topics of identity formation, liberation, and trauma.
The way "Highway" compares Veera's life of luxury and seeming safety with the shocking reality of her kidnapping is among the film's most remarkable features. Veera is initially a wealthy family's pampered child who seems to be shielded by her social standing. But her kidnapping exposes how flimsy this protection is. Veera starts to discover psychological and emotional scars caused by her seemingly comfortable surroundings. Are girls really safe in their homes and communities? is one of the important concerns that the movie poses. Or are these areas full of hidden risks and limitations?
In the movie, the highway represents Veera's self-discovery journey both literally and figuratively. Taken from her comfortable surroundings, she begins to face her prior traumas, such as a family member's sexual abuse—a crime that went unreported and continued in the supposed protection of her house. The revelation highlights the violence against girls that goes unreported in settings that are accepted as safe by society.
Interestingly, it is through her abduction and the subsequent journey that Veera finds a form of liberation. Even though Mahabir is her kidnapper, he unintentionally serves as the impetus for her freedom. Veera feels a sense of independence and liberty that she had not before experienced as they travel over the vast rural Indian landscapes. The conventional narratives of safety and danger are challenged by this complicated dynamic, which emphasizes that true safety for girls includes not only physical security but also emotional and psychological well-being.
"Highway" delves deeply into the intricacies of safety and autonomy for women and girls, surpassing its status as a mere kidnapping drama. Through exploring Veera's journey, we can learn about the possibilities for finding freedom through adversity as well as the hidden dangers that might exist in places that appear safe. As we consider these concepts, it inspires us to work towards establishing settings in which everyone can experience true safety on all levels—physical, emotional, and psychological.
It is through these kinds of thoughtful considerations that we can work towards a future in which girls are truly secure everywhere.
Even though your blog is very insightful, I found this movie a little disturbing for me. I enjoyed how a sense of liberation and solace is shown by Veera's journey towards freedom and self-discovery. But how it started by kidnapping her shocked me to my core. Maybe this journey could be started with self-realization or something. However, overall, it really is a great movie to watch. I like the plot of how awareness is created of childhood traumas that exist even in the wealthiest families, and no one pays attention to those. It also portrays the physical and emotional scars a child bears due to child sexual abuse and how it has a great impact on the future of…
"Highway" is indeed a powerful film that tackles important issues of safety and empowerment for women. However, while the film brings forward significant themes, it also has some problematic aspects that need to be addressed.
The narrative suggests that Veera finds liberation through her kidnapping, which can be a troubling message. It implies that her abductor, despite his criminal actions, serves as a catalyst for her freedom and self-discovery. This portrayal can be problematic as it romanticizes the concept of abduction and the dangerous notion that traumatic experiences are necessary for personal growth.
Additionally, the film’s message might inadvertently minimize the gravity of kidnapping and abuse by presenting them as pathways to empowerment. While Veera’s journey highlights the hidden dangers…
The story of "Highway," which I haven't seen yet, seems like it would be a very thought-provoking movie that addresses important problems of women's safety and empowerment. The narrative of Veera's kidnapping and subsequent journey appears to effectively contrast the harsh realities of a patriarchal culture with the false security of her wealthy life. The film's use of her kidnapping as a story device and a transforming experience that questions traditional ideas of security and freedom is fascinating. Based on my understanding, "Highway" delves into the intricate layers of identity, trauma, and independence, implying that genuine safety requires not only physical defense but also mental and emotional health. Despite the difficult beginnings, the highway metaphor appears to offer a fascinating…
While it is true that the movie touches on ideas of trauma, freedom, and self-discovery, achieving that through kidnapping which is a dangerous crime and can have worse trauma and fear for the victim sounds a little too "Bollywood" and its obsession with romanticizing everything. I fear that it may mislead young girls to run away from homes with strangers and trust strange men they meet and hope to fall in love and escape problems. The reality of being kidnapped is very different as portrayed in the movie and it can be very violent. I think what is important is to address root causes such as gender inequality, inadequate safety measures, and societal attitudes that perpetuate violence against women. Other…
A very intriguing post! The hidden dangers of imprisonment in the places we call "home" shows just how paradoxical this situation may seem to be. However, do you really think that there really could exist places of complete security in terms of all aspects? I personally feel that would be very hard to achieve, considering we are imperfect beings and are bound to mess up over and over again. Instead, what could be done is to strive for such an environment to the best of one's capability. There will always be something that is "missing", thus one should then aim to achieve that and make sure not to get too caught up in trying to be perfect, which can also…