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Sanjay Datt: Drugs Ruined My Life!

Mihika Poore

“Maine pehli baar drug li kyuki mei dad se naraz tha, doosri baar kyuki maa bemaar thi, teesri baar tak, mei drug addict ban chuka tha”
Sanju is a biopic of Sanjay Datt, which portrays the intense emotional phases of Sanjay’s journey as he loses his mother, was under arrest for five years and earlier was a drug addict. Though he desired cocaine and heroin the most, the movie revealed how he had consumed almost every drug from Hallucinogens to Quaaludes. The audience could experience his uncontrollable craving and helplessness. This blog attempts to understand the power of substance abuse on an addict by looking at the accurate portrayal of the same in the movie ‘Sanju.’
Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is caused by compulsive intake of a substance leading to harmful consequences that can cause a substance abuse disorder. People with such addictions acquire distorted thinking and behavior over time (“What is Addiction”). At first, the drugs provide immense pleasure but later builds dependence which is not effortless to break. The risk factors that originate from substance abuse are mostly biological and environmental, which have been displayed in the movie.
Making a transition from child to adult can be stressful and challenging for many adolescents (Vitelli). I rest assured that emotional disputes and peer pressure are some of the most potent elements that affected Sanju. He was persuaded by one of his friends to try cocaine for the first time. The symptoms of the drugs were prominent in the movie. As Sanjay mentions, “samajh nahi aa raha kya real hai, kya imagination,” (‘I cannot understand what’s real and what’s imagined’) and the portrayal of visual hallucinations in the film illustrated how drugs affected him. I observed that he was detached from reality. As a viewer, I could live through the feeling of impotent, and powerlessness that Sanju goes through.
When he realized that drugs had ruined his life, he decided to go to the rehabilitation center, which I believe was an excellent message for the audience. Sadly, by then, the drugs had caused him enough damage. To stop consumption, he had to face many withdrawal symptoms. He pointed out that sometimes he felt cold as ice, and other times he felt as if his body was burning. His hands would tremor, and heartbeat would suddenly reach 150 resulting in vomiting. Stopping the consumption of drugs can lead to withdrawal effects such as excessive sweating, insomnia, and headache. The movie spreads a message of how the use of any substance can become challenging to such a level that a person feels incompetent.
Substance abuse disorders have an increased likelihood of being accompanied by mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. The daily consumption of such addictive substances can also build tolerance, use of larger and larger doses to produce the same effects (“Addiction”). I commend the movie as it truly displays the presence of tolerance in Sanju as he uncontrollably seeks drugs. He begs and runs away from the rehabilitation center to his friend’s house, in search of alcohol.
Although, the movie is a real-life story and the treatment showed would have been successful for Sanju. I felt that the treatment was limited. To divert the attention of the patients, dancing and running, were practiced. No other treatment or medication has been shown in the entire movie. However, the film spreads an essential lesson of never giving up.
Moreover, Sanjay also had marvelous support from his father and friend, Kamlesh, which was vital in his recovery from the disorder. The movie has some Bollywood drama and twists to make it thrilling, which might be a reason for missing out on essential details about the disorder. However, the focus of the movie was not entirely on his substance abuse. Moreover, the movie was seen as an experiment to whitewash Sanjay’s lousy image. Because of which the focus of viewers shifted from substance abuse to him being in jail and more.
At last, being a student of psychology, I could sense Sanju’s emotions and judge the movie precisely based on the effects of the drugs on his life by the tolerance and withdrawal symptoms displayed, and the treatment shown. It is certain that the audience took a positive note from the movie and understood the harsh repercussions that drugs can bring into an individual’s life. The movie does spread an anti-drug message without preaching.



















References:
Addiction. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2019, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/addiction.
Vitelli, R. (n.d.). What Makes Teenagers Abuse Drugs and Alcohol? Retrieved December 15, 2019, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/media-spotlight/201512/what-makes-teenagers-abuse-drugs-and-alcohol.
What Is Addiction? (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2019, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-is-addiction.

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