Guzaarish by Sanjay Leela Bhansaali

‘Guzaarish’ tells the story of Ethan Mascarenhas, a quadriplegic radio jockey who petitions for an assisted death. A former magician who was paralyzed during his act, Ethan lives in a large house in the Indian city of Goa with two attendants and his devoted nurse, Sophia. His charming personality and wit make him the popular host of a radio show on which he gives advice for appreciating life. On the 14-year-anniversary of his accident, Ethan informs his lawyer, Devyani, that he wants to petition for court-ordered euthanasia. The judge rejects his plea, stating that assisted death will not be considered due to Article 21 of the Indian constitution: the right to live with dignity, which values life as paramount. Between this rejection and their subsequent appeal, Ethan humorously attempts to court Sofia, trains a new student as his successor, and starts a segment on his radio show called “Ethanasia,” (a play on “Ethan” and “euthanasia”)  where he asks callers for their opinions on his wish for assisted death. Most callers disagree with his choice; they either dismiss his wish as a cowardly escape from suffering, reject the notion of euthanasia as obscene, or fear that his choice will set a dangerous precedent. For most of the film, Ethan receives little compassion or understanding from the public. During the appeal hearing, Ethan’s companions testify to humanize him. They cite Article 21, arguing that the right to live should also extend to Ethan’s right to choose death. Conversely, the prosecutor argues that a ruling in Ethan’s favor will snowball into misuse. Ethan testifies by having the prosecutor locked in a box for 60 seconds to give him a glimpse into his immobility. Although the judge commiserates with Ethan, he rules against him, stating that it is not in his power to grant him an assisted death. Sofia resolves to assist in Ethan’s death, despite her wishes against it. Upon realizing how much Sofia loves him, Ethan proposes to her, and Sofia accepts. The final scene of the film is Ethan’s farewell party. He individually tells his friends why he loves them. He says that he is happy because his suffering ended the previous day.

‘Guzaarish’ is a Bollywood film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film has massive sets, elaborate costumes, musical sequences, and a melodramatic tone. Its two leads, Hrithik Roshan (Ethan) and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Sofia) were two of Bollywood’s biggest stars at the time of the film’s release. Aside from Ethan’s quest for euthanasia, the film also contains comedy, action, betrayal, and romance. For instance, through flashbacks, the film presents Ethan’s exploits as a renowned magician and the betrayal that led to his paralyzing accident. All this makes ‘Guzaarish’ a complicated and cluttered narrative about a legal battle for assisted death. However, although not directly cited, ‘Guzaarish’ precedes pivotal legislative developments regarding euthanasia in India. A year after ‘Guzaarish’ was released, India legalized passive euthanasia. This decision was followed by the amendment to Article 21 in 2018, which expanded the right to live with dignity to include the right to die with dignity. The film’s legal sequences explore the basic talking points of euthanasia, dignity, and Article 21. Ethan’s friends and lawyer argue for the dignity and autonomy of those who seek assisted death, while the prosecutor serves as a narrative proxy for the detractors of legalizing assisted death. The prosecutor’s arc concludes with an act of empathy: he is locked in a box, gaining brief insight into the pain of Ethan’s immobility. Although Bhansali is calling the viewer to empathize with those who may seek assisted death, he is also presenting death as the resolution for a disability like quadriplegia. Ethan never gives an explicit reason for seeking an assisted death, which leads the viewer to reason that the disability is his motive. Despite its problematic logic and unfocused narrative, ‘Guzaarish’ has star leads, the Bollywood form, and a bluntness that made it an accessible introduction for India’s citizens to the topic of assisted death.