A study into psychopaths!

Paanch (2003)
Written and Directed by Anurag Kashyap

It is funny that a movie that never had a formal theatrical or home-video release went to win international screening, went on to be screened in multiple international film festivals. It was Anurag Kashyap's directorial debut, but all the kerfuffle surrounding the issues with the censorship board actually skyrocketed his career. He went on to make many more films and was in line for many accolades, including 'Knight of Order of Arts and Letters' from the French Government in 2013.

'Paanch's tiff with certification had to do its graphic depiction of violence and drug abuse by early 2000's standard. It is based on actual events. A motley crew of five friends of convenience occasionally perform in a band. They spend most of the time wasted, on booze and drugs. Luke, the domineering de-facto leader of the group, provides accommodation and has a tight psychological and arm-twisting control over the others. The other three guys (Joy, Pondy and Moorgi) are college drop-outs, and another member (Shuili) is a promiscuous girl who sings in their band.

During one of their rare performances, an agent takes notice. He promises a record deal, but the band had come up with the money for his services. Luke conspires with his other friend to stage a kidnapping and demand ransom from the father. The plan falls flat when Luke kills his friend. Then they try to rob the father. Again, another murder; the father gets murdered. Both killings were by Luke. To their disappointment, the agent ran away with their 'hard-earned' money.

The next half of the movie tells about police investigations, the killing of policemen, as well as their escape from the law and outmanoeuvring of each other to escape with the balance of their loot.

A fascinating depiction of how a domineering character can outwit and impose their will on others. Even though we like to say that decisions made in any civilised association is mutual consensus, in reality, the dominant always pounce the timid. Even though the decision finally reached is what the majority wants, the dominant will easily steamroll their ideas with the power of persuasion, coercion or fear, sometimes of the unknown. Their persona is so strong that they can influence the majority.

The Luke character is obviously a psychopath who has no remorse and no empathy in fulfilling his goals. It caught me wondering. Psychopathic tendencies are born within an individual. It is not a learnt exercise.

Science has tried to identify psychopaths amongst us. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is a psychological assessment tool that has been used by the US criminal justice system to differentiate personality disorders from true psychopaths. The trouble is that it is said to be against many hardcore criminals who had apparently repented and turned over a new leave. As psychopaths are devoid of normal human emotions, remorseless, cold, impulsive and cannot be reformed. Theoretically, they have to rot in a cell for life with no chance for release or parole. The case of a Robert Dixon is referred to. 

Fallon was prompted to study his brain after his mother,
Jenny told him his ancestry was full of alleged murderers.

Scientists have been using PET scans, and functional MRIs have been used to highlight reduced neural activity surrounding the empathy appreciation part of the brain. The amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex and insula were scrutinised. Their connectivity was found to be decreased during emotional provocations. The scientist in one of these studies, to his dismay, discovered his brain pattern also mimicked that of a psychopath! His interview with family members suggested he may have been domineering, impulsive and very obsessive about cleanliness. Looking back into family tree generations previously, he has had murderers amongst them and ancestors who had been hanged from crimes. 

[P.S. By today's standards, the level of violence and the depiction of alcohol, drugs and tobacco usage in this film can be said to be child's play. A different time with a more guarded view of what should be permissible for public consumption.]

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