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8 Times Hollywood & Bollywood Raised Awareness About Autism
Bollywood entertainment company Yash Raj Films recently released the sixth installment of its Love Shot series called The Big Date. The short film very subtly sheds light on autism.
However, this isn't the first time the entertainment industry has used pop culture to enlighten people about the neurodevelopmental condition.
We bring you eight of the most heartwarming Hollywood and Bollywood movies that focus on autism:
1. The Big Date
This short film starring Saba Azad, Rhea Chakraborthy and Mohit Marwah is about two sisters — an autistic one and an overexcited one — getting dressed and having a conversation about the soon-to-arrive date.
2. Rain Man
Rain Man stars Tom Cruise as Charlie Babbith. He learns that he has an estranged savant autistic brother after his father’s death who's the sole heir to a multimillion-dollar estate. The film documents their life-changing cross-country voyage.
3. Aapki Antara
Aapki Antara is an Indian soap that aired on Zee T.V. The show’s primary focus was an autistic five-year-old girl whom society shunned due to her lack of emotions and perpetual state of daydreaming.
4. Adam
This romantic drama follows the relationship of Hugh Dancy as Adam, a man suffering from Asperger’s syndrome (a form of autism) and Rose Byrne as Beth, a school teacher who takes a liking to Adam.
5. Barfi
Barfi is a romantic comedy about an atypical love triangle comprising Murphy (Barfi), who's both deaf and mute, Jhilmil, who has autism, and Shruti, a woman stuck in an unhappy marriage.
6. The Story of Luke
This feature film directed by Alonso Mayo tells the story of an autistic young man named Luke who struggles to find a sustainable job and a girlfriend who’d accept him.
7. My Name Is Khan
Directed by Karan Johar, MNIK is a captivating movie about an autistic Indian-Muslim named Rizwan Khan whose whole life gets disrupted after the 9/11 attack. After a series of distressing events, Rizwan embarks on a journey to meet the U.S President in order to get rid of a terrorist label.
8. Mozart and the Whale
Mozart and the Whale was directed by Petter Naess and stars Radha Mitchell and Josh Hartnett. The endearing tale centres around two lovers suffering from Asperger’s syndrome and their struggle to save their derailing relationship.
Main Image Photo Credits (L–R): ramblingfilm.blogspot.com, www.bollywoodlife.com, www.youtube.com
Sidra Ghazali
Author
Sidra is an aspiring textile designer. She is also a fashion obsessed makeup junkie who loves everything pink, cake & Tom Cruise. She is an avid writer, reader, songwriter and occasional chef.
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