Over the past eight decades, Hindi cinema has shifted dramatically in its portrayal of doctors, evolving from saintly, selfless figures to more layered, sometimes flawed characters, noted Dr. S.K. Tyagi, a gastroenterologist, during his presentation at the IMA TGSCON conference held at AIG Hospital in Hyderabad on November 9. Through this shift, films have reflected societal changes in the expectations placed on medical professionals.

In the 1930s and 40s, movies like Dushman and Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani depicted doctors as devoted to their work and committed to saving lives. According to Dr. Tyagi, these early portrayals captured the ideal of the doctor as a “savior” figure, with unwavering dedication. By the 1960s, however, films such as Anuradha presented a slightly different image, with doctors shown as altruistic yet often neglectful of their own families. This era also marked the beginning of more complex depictions, as seen in Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), which showed a doctor involved in an affair, and Aarti(1962), where a doctor proposes marriage as compensation for a life-saving surgery.

In 1967, Upkar introduced the first portrayal of a female doctor, a role played by Asha Parekh, highlighting changing gender roles within the profession. By 1971, Anand depicted doctors as highly serious professionals, creating an image of medical practitioners as distant and clinical figures. “Even now, many patients expect doctors to be humorless and strictly clinical,” Dr. Tyagi commented, underlining a stereotype that has persisted in popular perception.

In the 1980s, Hindi cinema began exploring the ethical dilemmas faced by doctors. The film Bemisal (1982) featured a doctor involved in illegal activities, such as performing abortions—an unusual representation of medical misconduct at the time. Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1990) showed the struggle of a doctor attempting to create a malaria vaccine, only to face resistance from the medical establishment, leading to his professional demotion and reassignment to a remote location.

Dr. Tyagi described Munnabhai MBBS (2004) as a landmark film that depicted an unconventional doctor who enters medical school through deceit. However, the character’s compassion, expressed through his “Jaadu Ki Jhappi” (magical hug), garnered empathy from the audience. Another notable film, Kyon Ki (2009), brought forward ethical debates on euthanasia, a subject not commonly addressed in Hindi films.

In recent years, films have continued to show doctors grappling with ethical challenges. Dr. Tyagi cited the 2015 film Waiting, which focuses on the financial burdens faced by patients' families and raises issues about hospital overcharging. Andhadhun (2018) offered a darker view, featuring a doctor involved in an illegal kidney racket. In Kabir Singh (2019), a doctor is portrayed with severe anger issues and a drug addiction, yet the film’s popularity made him a hero in the eyes of many viewers. “Despite his flaws, the doctor was portrayed as a hero, and the film was a commercial success,” Dr. Tyagi remarked.

Reflecting on these evolving portrayals, Dr. Tyagi concluded by asking if these cinematic depictions mirror the kind of doctors society expects: “As society has evolved, did we get the doctors we wanted on screen?”

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)