The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments. - Friedrich Nietzsche
Domestic abuse happens. Just not to us or anyone we know. Because the abusers are usually crazy or raging alcoholics. And the victims are usually utterly helpless.
Despite our own personal awareness, this is the general opinion. As advocates of violent truths, those who have the power to bring about such awareness ought to dispel the public of such notions. It can happen to absolutely anyone. Do not underestimate anger. It can afflict anyone, in any socio-economic situation. It is the worst of the seven deadly sins. And is the primary cause of abuse. Not necessarily emotional trauma or substance abuse. Anger is enough to violate any human right.
Director Jagmohan Mundhra decided to tell a true story about a tragic tale of a wife abused for 10 years, who then kills her husband and is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without any consideration for her aggravating circumstances. The mistake he makes is that he decides to tell an 'engaging' tale instead of a true one. The victim, Kiranjeet Ahluwalia is reduced from a somewhat self-sufficient factory worker, to a completely helpless housewife. The abuser, Deepak Ahluwalia is depicted as a raging alcoholic which may not be true. The rest of the deviations, in my opinion, are not as harmful as these. I think it's a disservice in telling a stereotypical story instead of the real one. I'm not sure how it is supposed to be more engaging, but certainly perpetuates the "it's not going to happen to us" assurance. Despite the tragic tale, the subtle yet important false assurance that it carries, does little to spread the message it may have intended.
