Urban Landscape and Political Violence in Anurag Kashyap’s Cinematic Narratives: A Foucauldian Perspective

Ms. Sarita Yadav; Dr Vipan Pal Singh

doi:10.53032/tcl.2024.9.4.04

Authors

Ms. Sarita Yadav Research Scholar, Department of English, Central University of Punjab, Punjab, India,Central University of Punjab
Dr Vipan Pal Singh Associate Professor Department of English, Central University of Punjab, Punjab, India,Central University of Punjab

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53032/tcl.2024.9.4.04

Keywords:

Bollywood, Discourse, Foucault, Political Violence, Power-Knowledge, Urban Landscape

Abstract

This research examines the representation of political violence in Anurag Kashyap’s movies that are set in urban environments and the extents to which such portrayals are a mirror to society. We will first discuss what makes urban environments a haven for violent crimes and then, analyze the relations between the socio-physical determinants, power, and individual agency. By scrutinizing two of Anurag Kashyap’s films, renowned for their gritty urban realism, the study elucidates the ways in which these works articulate the contentious dynamics of political violence in India’s metropolises. Referring to the philosophical perspectives of Michel Foucault, we examine the dynamics of power in the politics of urban settings. This research uses Foucault’s ideas like power-knowledge, discourse, disciplinary bodies, and technology of the self to analyze how leaders use strategies and tactics that lead the youth to violence. The following analysis aims at understanding how, in addition to reflecting, Bollywood can actively contribute to building the perception of the urban turmoil, thereby understanding the role of cinema as a social mirror and critique. Overall, this research enriches the knowledge on violence and power relations and social control in urban environments and highlights the potential of cinema as a discursive tool for critique.

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Author Biographies

Ms. Sarita Yadav, Research Scholar, Department of English, Central University of Punjab, Punjab, India,Central University of Punjab

Sarita Yadav is currently pursuing her PhD at the Department of English, Central University of Punjab, where her research focuses on the intersections of literary theory, Foucault's concept of power and subject, and political philosophy. Sarita completed her master's degree in English from Panjab University. She has a keen interest in exploring how theoretical frameworks can be applied to contemporary literary texts, particularly in understanding the dynamics of power, governance, and individual agency.

Dr Vipan Pal Singh, Associate Professor Department of English, Central University of Punjab, Punjab, India,Central University of Punjab

Dr. Vipan Pal Singh is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the Central University of Punjab. His research focuses on Postcolonial Literature and Literary and Critical Theory. Dr. Singh has published over 20 research papers in reputed journals and has presented his work at numerous national and international conferences. He is also a sought-after speaker, having delivered lectures on various topics related to his field of expertise at academic institutions across India.

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