Nature and Culture in Conflict: Ecocritical Reading of Movie Bhediya

"The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share," observed Lady Bird Johnson, underscoring the universal importance of environmental preservation. The 2022 Hindi-language film Bhediya, directed by Amar Kaushik, provides a compelling site for ecocritical and cultural studies analysis, intertwining environmental themes with folklore and myth. Ecocritical theory, as Lawrence Buell asserts, interrogates the representation of nature and the human-nature relationship within cultural texts. Through this lens, Bhediya unfolds a narrative about environmental conservation, wildlife protection, and the clash between modernization and ecological balance. Set in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh, the film follows Bhaskar, a man bitten by a mythical wolf who gradually transforms into a werewolf-like creature. His transformation symbolizes humanity’s growing disconnection from nature and the dire consequences of exploiting the environment for capitalist gain, as his construction project threatens the local ecology. From a cultural studies perspective, drawing on Raymond Williams’s critique of Culture and Society, Bhediya offers a pointed critique of deforestation, corporate greed, and uncontrolled development. It reflects broader societal attitudes toward nature and modernization, blending indigenous cultural beliefs with urgent environmental concerns. The film engages with complex issues of identity, power, and the interaction between local and global forces, critiquing environmental degradation while urging a more respectful relationship with nature. Thus, this paper explores how Bhediya contributes to the discourse on cultural identity and ecological responsibility, urging a reconsideration of our place within the natural world amidst contemporary Indian society.