By-Author Vamika Gupta is the Program Officer, Advocacy at the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP).
Recently, I went to watch a film with my friends. Settled into my seat at the cinema, the air was filled with excitement. Amidst a casual conversation, looking at the film subtitles, I mentioned the significance of closed captioning as an accessibility feature for those with hearing impairments. It was a casual remark, but suddenly, it made me see a seemingly small feature from the lens of accessibility. At that moment, the screen before me took a new meaning, highlighting the broader issue of inclusion in our cinematic experience.
Movies, with their captivating narratives and larger-than-life-visuals, hold a special place in our hearts. They are the favourite pastime for a significant chunk of the population, as also evidenced by the Indian film industry producing the largest number of movies every year in the world. Yet for too long, a significant section of society has not been able to access this cultural phenomenon. This leads us to several critical questions. Has the joy of cinema become a privilege, only reserved for the majority?
As we enter the realm of accessibility features, the seemingly small additions have the power to transform the cinematic experience for millions. The absence of closed captions, audio descriptions, and subtitles coupled with the inaccessible seating facilities and infrastructure make the experience of movie watching a challenging ‘task’ for persons with disability.
For instance, Alim Chandni narrates his experience of watching the Bollywood film ‘Zero.’ “I am a Deaf advocate for equal rights in India. Imagine me going to watch a Bollywood cinema with everyone else. I buy popcorn and a Coca-Cola and sit in my seat. I am excited to see how the main characters support my community, people with disabilities, onscreen. But…once I see SRK start talking, I do not understand a word he says. For a very simple reason: there are no English subtitles for those who need access to understand the important message ‘Zero’ is aiming to spread all over India. I would have to walk out of the movie theatre without being able to get a refund for my ticket and wonder, “When will this situation ever change?” (As cited in YourStory, 2018, Bollywood movies to become accessible for visually impaired & hearing impaired.)
This situation is even more interesting with ‘Zero’ being a movie that portrayed persons with disabilities on screen, with Shahrukh Khan playing a character with dwarfism and Anushka Sharma playing a woman with cerebral palsy and confined to a wheelchair. The movie that brought persons with disabilities into the limelight by showcasing their experiences of falling in love failed to reach the very audience it aimed to empower.
Alim Chandni’s experience is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a larger issue. The story highlights the plight of 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in India who are sidelined. These challenges become more complex and diverse for persons with different disability types. For instance, for persons with mobility challenges, limited wheelchair-accessible seats (if any), inaccessible cinema infrastructure with a lack of ramps, lifts, or poorly constructed ramps (if available at all), and inadequately trained customer service staff often pose a hindrance for a person with a disability. It erodes them from enjoying the experience of watching a movie at par with others, often making them dependent on their caregivers.
Kavya Mukhija, a young woman with a locomotor disability, narrates her ordeal of having to sit separately from her family due to the lack of wheelchair-accessible seats. She mentions, “It is frustrating to experience discrimination every single time! This was not the first time I faced this in the theatre. What an irony that this happened on International Wheelchair Day! What inclusion are we talking about? This is 2022 and we still do not know what wheelchair access is. Why can’t I just feel included and welcomed for once?” (As cited in Youth Ki Awaaz, 2022)
However, there has been a silver lining to it all. In March 2024, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting released the draft “Guidelines of Accessibility Standards in the Public Exhibition of Feature Films in Cinema Theatres for Persons with Hearing and Visual Impairment” signaling a much-needed shift towards inclusion. The draft guidelines require producers to deliver two versions of a film for certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), including one with accessibility features enabled, and call on theatres for the use of separate equipment and mobile apps. The assistive devices include smart glasses for displaying captions, closed caption stands near seats, small screens below the big screens, headphones/earphones for audio description, etc.
But, of course, progress comes with challenges. Several film producer associations have pushed back on these guidelines citing the associated additional cost involved in making accessible movies. For instance, The Film Federation of India, which constitutes the committee that selects the film that will represent India at the Academy Awards each year, said that making “separate versions of films for the general public and handicapped audiences incurs additional cost,” and that the draft guidelines “burden producers, especially small budget ones.” (As cited in The Hindu, 2024)
Yet, companies like Nobaflix are leading the way with innovations like ‘XL Cinema’, an Indian app that synchronizes the audio description of a movie with the cinema track audio, empowering persons with visual impairment to fully experience the magic of cinema. This initiative showcases the potential to tap into the industry and create products and services universally designed to meet the needs of all kinds of audiences.
But it’s not just about technology; it’s about collaboration. A public-private partnership could prove to be fruitful with civil society organizations partnering with producers, and theatres to build the capacity of audio describers, translators, and subtitlers. Additionally, the partnership could be harnessed to create larger awareness among regular theatre audiences about the significance of accessible cinema as a means for social inclusion.
Best practices and learnings from global campaigns like the ‘WANT – We All Need Theatre’, an awareness campaign within the European Project, Inclusive Theatre, could also be incorporated and learned from. Furthermore, resource materials like ‘ReelAccess: A Guide to Accessible Film Festivals and Screenings’, a booklet created by the Government of Ontario, could be referred to draw invaluable knowledge for those navigating the world of accessible cinema.
In the end, accessibility is not just about the construction of ramps and the provision of wheelchairs. It is about something deeper – it’s about preserving the dignity and independence of every person with a disability. Being able to enjoy the magic of cinema should never be a luxury reserved for a few, it is a fundamental right, deserved by every individual, regardless of their ability. So, the next time you visit a cinema to watch a movie, I urge you to close your eyes for a couple of minutes. Observe what you feel as you struggle to fully experience your favourite movie. And, let that frustration and isolation sink in!
Together, let us ensure that the silver screen truly shines for everyone, leaving no one behind.