ANALYSIS OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND DRUG CONSUMPTION SCENES IN THE TAMIL FILM 'VIKRAM' BY PSYCHOANALYTIC FILM THEORY

Abstract

Psychoanalytic film theory, developed by Sigmund Freud, posits that viewers take on the perspectives of onscreen characters. The film appeals to the 'Id,' the unconscious part of the mind that seeks pleasure, by suggesting that it would be good to acquire and then resolutely repress any desires the audience might have. The 'Ego' of the conscious mind is the conduit through which the subconscious desire to mimic the actions of the film's characters manifests Jung (2007). Kamalhasan starred in the recently released Lokesh-directed Tamil film Vikram. There is a high probability that viewers will favor repressed desire above Id consciousness due to the film's high concentration of drug, tobacco, and alcohol consumption sequences. This research is therefore conducted. This study uses purposive sampling and bases its findings on the theoretical framework of psychoanalytic film theory. Films with depictions of substance abuse were subjected to qualitative and quantitative content analysis to determine the prevalence of these behaviors throughout the medium (Duration of consuming, consuming scene description, the character that is consuming, and the sense that represses the consuming behavior over Id consciousness). The consumption scenes were then discussed in depth by a focus group of five academics (Scene interpretation and capacity of consuming behavior). When everything was said and done, the result was determined by the number of Id awareness variables (desire, violence, Heroism, joy, power, etc.) repressed by the film scenes.