Ab dawa nahi, dua ki zaroorat hai...

Jasmine Singh

Our Bollywood and television doctors have often been kept away from medical science, either they perform such unimaginable medical guffaws (the blood transfusion scene in Amar Akbar Anthony where the art team of the film has apparently created a web of blood pipes), or they are god fearing, “Bus kuch hi time bacha hai.” 

On Doctor’s Day, as we find a moment to thank the people who have our back (literally), in sickness, we cannot but help talking about the on-screen doctors and their real sad portrayal on screen. 

It is interesting to note that in time where biopics are the next big thing in Bollywood, nobody has attempted to make one on doctors. In fact, we do not have commercial film barring Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani, Tere Mere Sapne or Dil Ek Mandir that have captured the emotional angle and tough lives of doctors. 

“This is because a common man doesn’t see anything exciting in a doctor’s life,” Dr Param Preet Ghuman from Mohali laughs about it, “On the contrary, if a Bollywood or a television director or writer were to research, they would find out stories on doctors who have made exemplary work in medical history.”

Sadly, no one is doing this as of now. Barring small and side characters, doctors have never made it to the centre-stage as the lead. A Bollywood film, Ankur Arora Murder Case, is on odd film based on doctors and controversial incident, but this too didn’t manage to grab eyeballs. 

So, the closest and memorable reference of on-screen popular doctor is either Sanjay Dutt playing Munna Bhai MBBS or Amitabh Bachchan as the over concerned doctor in Anand. “Hollywood has one of the best films on medical science, The Doctor, Patch Adams, Something The Lord Made... but we only have Munna Bhai MBBS, or Kareena Kapoor playing an over enthusiastic doctor in Udta Punjab and 3 Idiots,” says Dr Jasbir Kaur, who is amazed at her own findings. 

Well, Bollywood and television have been generous with all other professions like cops, scientists, but when it comes to doctor, there still has to be a breakthrough. “Interestingly, I am working on a story of an inspiring doctor from Bihar who set an example in humanity by working for villagers and even the rich without a single penny,” movie-maker Harmanjot Singh shares. Our Bollywood doctors have made startling unbelievable operations defying medical laws, but none which can actually throw a light on their dedicated profession.