Mumbai: Mumbai's doctors have failed to give a clean bill of health to the film ‘Kabir Singh’. They have expressed concern over depiction of the character of Kabir Singh, who plays a doctor grappling with alcoholism, drug addiction and anger management issues. Doctors have written a letter to the censor board and also filed a complaint against makers of the film for showing doctors in a bad light. Dr Pradeep Gadge, a diabetologist, has written to the central health minister, information and broadcasting ministry, state health minister and the censor board, to stop screening of the movie, claiming it is damaging the image of the medical fraternity. ‘‘I write this letter to you with angst and hope for an improvement. I would request you to give me a patient hearing. I was shocked to watch the recently released movie, ‘Kabir Singh’. Given the recent outburst of negativity towards medical professionals and doctors, I can only feel sorry to witness yet another assault on the fraternity and the image of doctors, Dr Gadge has written.
Further, the letter reads, ‘‘being a doctor is not just a profession, it is a service. A service to mankind. And with each passing day, the numbers of those joining the profession are down and what is rising? Lack of trust, respect and goodwill! If we continue like this, the day is not far when we’ll have a dearth of good doctors. Filmmakers make films for the audience to acknowledge and accept. If we, as literates, will not just accept but also encourage such movies and character portrayals, we need to introspect.
Dr Parthiv Sanghvi, former president of the Indian Medical Association, said he does not want to see the movie as there is a wrong portrayal of doctors and they do not behave like this in real life. No doctor will behave in a violent manner as shown in the movie. It is a complete distortion of the image of doctors, said Dr Sanghvi.
The movie has been in the headlines since its release on June 21. Since its release, ‘Kabir Singh’ has earned a cumulative Rs 88.37 crore at the box office.
