A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS MEN AS WELL AS WOMEN FILLS ACTOR VIVEK KUMAR'S MIND WHEN HE ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF RAPE IN HIS 376D, SLATED TO RELEASE ON 9TH OCTOBER, 2020 ON SHEMAROOME’S BOX OFFICE

Jyothi Venkatesh

Actor Vivek Kumar who plays the role of Sanju in 376D found himself in responsible shoes as an artist and a human being when he read the script for 376D. The role demanded for him to empathize with the feeling of vulnerability that engulfs you when you are a survivor of sexual harassment. As a Cis man in hetropatriarchy, Vivek had no idea about the trauma and emotional turmoil an act of rape could bring with it.

What altered his reality and played a pivotal role in him taking essences from an experience was when a close friend of his has her persoanl space encroached upon and narrowly escaped the heinous act of rape. He tried to imbibe the pain, vulnerability and identity struggle his friend faced and tried to emulate that into his performance.

Vivek divulges further. “As an actor, entering that painful, vulnerable and violated zone was a challenge that I negotiated with during the preparation. During shooting my visceral involvement in the scenes evolved my understanding of harassments from the perspective of the survivors. I am grateful to this film 376 D, as it gave me an opportunity not only as an actor but also to become a more responsible and responsive human being. If our film ‘376 D’ creates a community of the audience, aware and united against sexual violence against any gender, that would be the real success of this work.

376D, as the name suggests, is based on the very section the film gets its title from. While the section deals with the horror of gang rape, the film comes up with a never seen before premise that discusses sexual assault, but not in a way that the viewers expect. It tells the story of two young men who face an uphill battle with the judiciary. Whether they get the justice they seek, forms the crux of this nerve wracking courtroom drama.

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