(UN)Imagining incest: Depictions of familial sexual trauma in select malayalam films

The stigma associated with intra-familial sexual assault has been so enormous that such issues are largely unrepresented in artistic creations. There have been only a handful of films in the Malayalam movie industry that break the silence surrounding abuse within the family context. The present paper analyses the depictions of incestuous abuse in select Malayalam films. It focuses on representations of father-daughter incest, the stark reality of intra-familial sexual abuse, and the trauma that ensues from such incidents that have not been dealt with the seriousness that it deserves. The young victims of such abuse in society hardly find characters in films with whom they can identify, who share their painful stories of shame and insecurity, furthering their feelings of isolation as they believe that the situation they en-counter has no counterparts. Films, a widely popular entertainment medium, play a crucial role in the value formation of a society. Hence, it is imperative to criticize and counter the misogynistic patterns inherent in depictions of sexual abuse. Realistic and positive portrayals of survivors, their trauma, and agency can significantly alter the societal perceptions of such issues.