A portrayal of ecological perspectives on climate change in indian cinema

Abstract

With fires raging throughout the Amazon forest and the spectre of climate change staring in the face of humanity, the world's most pressing issue today is mitigating the threat posed to the environment by man-made disasters. It is no surprise then that at global forums, world leaders are desperately trying to work together to devise methods of preserving biodiversity and mitigating environmental degradation. This paper looks at climate change and natural disasters in the Indian context by analysing a Malayalam film, Ottaal (The Trap), an adaptation of Vanka, one of the timeless works of Russian writer Anton Chekhov. The 18th century story has been retold by setting it in a small village in present-day Kerala. Ottaal is a realistic portrayal of the suffering of individuals who face the adverse effects of climate change. The film presents a snapshot of the Earth's climate crisis with global temperatures rising at an alarming pace, and glaciers disappearing quicker than ever. The paper also explores India's role in preventing the grim future that the human race faces. A country with a third of the world's population, India is an industrialised nation that accounts for two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions. The resulting global warming has troubled nature's rhythm, causing floods, droughts, extensive hunger, displacement, epidemics, and death. These negative impacts are borne mostly by vulnerable groups like the poor, Adivasis, Dalits, and women. This cruel reality exposes and invites us to perceive climate change politics as a social justice issue. The distinctive geographic location of India also makes it extremely susceptible to natural disasters and climate change. Temperature and rainfall patterns have been erratic in the recent past, resulting in natural calamities. The paper also defines vulnerable regions and communities, and proposes fresh policy initiatives that could assist in reducing the impacts and after-effects of disasters.