Shorir: Subrata Roy’s heartbreaking portrayal of society’s darkest realities, writes Shanku Sharma

//Shanku Sharma//

Subrata Roy, popularly known as Sambhu, has returned with his latest video-drama Shorir (Body), a poignant commentary on the distressing incidents that occurred at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. This incident, which sent shockwaves across the nation, forms the backdrop of the 12-minute and 9-second video. Roy, once again playing his signature character Madan, uses this short but powerfully emotional piece to ask questions about the treatment of women in society.

Madan is a character we’ve come to recognize in Roy’s body of work—a poor, uneducated man who confronts the vices of society, often in a sarcastic or humorous manner. But Shorir presents Madan in a different light, one that reveals his sorrow and helplessness. His eyes are wet, his body language communicates defeat, and his clothes, marked by the black piece of cloth draped over them, signal his silent protest. The Madan we know, who uses humor to expose social wrongs, has been replaced by one whose soul is weighed down by the unspeakable horrors faced by women.

This shift is no accident. By portraying Madan in this vulnerable state, Roy emphasizes the deep personal anguish that individuals in society—especially those at the bottom of the social hierarchy—feel when women’s safety and dignity are compromised. Madan, though uneducated, grapples with society’s darkest questions, challenging the audience to do the same.

The very title of the video-drama, Shorir, conveys a powerful, multi-layered message. At first glance, it refers to the female body, an object that has been reduced to mere flesh in a world where violence, exploitation, and abuse are all too common. But beyond this, the title reflects the vulnerability of the human body in general—both men and women are at the mercy of societal injustices, but women, in particular, bear the brunt of these cruelties.

By using such a simple yet impactful title, Roy and writer Papri Bhattacharjee encapsulate the central theme of the video—women in society are often reduced to their physical forms, with little regard for their individuality, emotions, or rights. The body becomes a battleground, and Shorir asks the painful question: why are women viewed as nothing more than their bodies?

What makes Shorir so striking is not only Roy’s performance but also Bhattacharjee’s script. The story is emotionally straining, offering a heavy dose of reality. Madan’s attempts to find answers to the most troubling questions around female safety strike a chord. His confusion, helplessness, and eventual frustration reflect the emotions of countless parents, particularly those of female children, who live in constant fear of what the world might do to their daughters.

Madan’s dialogue is heart-wrenching as he stumbles through the dilemmas faced by every man who cares about the safety of the women around him. “Why are women reduced to mere bodies?” he asks. “Why does society continue to see them as objects rather than human beings with dreams, ambitions, and identities of their own?”

As Madan seeks answers, his sorrow deepens. His tears are not just for the women who suffer but for the societal structure that perpetuates these evils. This sadness is palpable throughout the video as the camera lingers on his face, capturing every nuance of his anguish.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of Shorir is its call to the audience for introspection. Through Madan’s character, Roy invites viewers to look within themselves and question their role in the objectification of women. Are we, as a society, doing enough to challenge this age-old perception of women as mere bodies?

The video’s structure allows viewers to feel Madan’s confusion as if it were their own. His voice trembles, his body shakes, and his soul cries out in pain—and through this, Roy creates a mirror for the audience to reflect on their own attitudes toward women’s safety and dignity.

Papri Bhattacharjee’s script is nothing short of masterful. She weaves together a complex narrative that raises questions without providing easy answers. The beauty of her writing lies in its ambiguity—it forces the audience to wrestle with the themes presented, rather than offering a comforting resolution. The tragedy and helplessness of Shorir are what give it such an emotional punch, leaving viewers haunted by Madan’s questions long after the video has ended.

The balance between the personal and the societal is also notable in Bhattacharjee’s writing. While Shorir tackles large-scale societal issues like female objectification and violence, it does so through the intimate lens of Madan’s life. This makes the video relatable to every viewer—whether you are a parent, a sibling, or simply a concerned citizen, you can see yourself in Madan’s shoes, grappling with the very real fears and questions he faces.

Set against the backdrop of the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital incident, Shorir taps into the collective anger and sadness that many felt after hearing the news. The video comes at a time when the nation is increasingly focused on issues of women’s safety, gender-based violence, and the societal structures that allow these horrors to persist.

Through Madan, Roy addresses these issues head-on, forcing viewers to confront the uncomfortable truths about how women are treated in our society. The incident at R.G. Kar serves as a powerful metaphor for the larger systemic problems that need to be addressed, and Shorir uses this real-life event as a launching point to discuss broader societal ills.

Shorir is a soul-stirring, emotionally charged video that raises important questions about the treatment of women in today’s society. Subrata Roy’s portrayal of Madan is heartbreaking, transforming the character into a symbol of society’s sorrow and helplessness. Papri Bhattacharjee’s writing provides a powerful narrative that leaves a lasting impact on the viewer, challenging them to reflect on their own role in perpetuating or challenging societal norms.

This video-drama is a call to action—not just for individuals but for society as a whole. It forces us to question the way we see women and challenges us to fight for a world where they are seen as more than just bodies. Shorir is a must-watch, not just for its powerful performances but for the critical questions it raises about the way we treat women.