OCD, the upcoming film starring Jaya Ahsan and directed by Soukarya Ghosal, sheds light on the evils of child abuse and at the same time, takes a cold, hard look at our society which fails to support victims of such heinous crimes. Its trailer, dropped on Monday, has already generated significant buzz for its intense theme and suggests that the film will be a dark, psychological thriller exploring childhood trauma and its deep-seated effects on the inner life of the victim. In it, Jaya Ahsan plays Shweta, a doctor who confronts her past and plans to exact revenge on her unpunished abuser when he unexpectedly re-enters her life. Battling obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is perhaps linked to her traumatic childhood, her meeting with her tormentor triggers her desire to break free from the forced silence of her past and makes her convert her clinical obsession with cleanliness into a tool for retribution.
She appears in a deglamorised, no-makeup look in the film, delivering a powerful performance of a woman who is unstable, anxious and on the edge. Also serving as the film’s emotional anchor, her compelling performance appears to bridge the gap between personal trauma and public protest, showcasing her character as a survivor who refuses to conform to social expectations. Koushik Sen, whose body language and dialogue delivery in the trailer evoke disgust and revulsion, is expected to play a major role as a negative character. Anashua Majumdar and Koneenica Banerjee are also glimpsed in the trailer, playing complex and impactful roles.
The trailer depicts how disturbing experiences in childhood can leave invisible life-long scars, giving way to violent tendencies and a desperate need to take revenge. The film is expected to raise concerns related to victims’ fear of being shamed or disbelieved which compels them to remain silent and hence allows perpetrators to go scot-free. It also aims to project the hypocrisies of a so-called modern, liberated society which prevents children from coming out with the truth and instead suppresses their voices owing to patriarchal mindsets and social prejudices.
Noted for its chilling, psychological tone, focusing on the long-term mental impact of childhood abuse, the trailer indicates that OCD will tell its story from the perspective of the victim who has finally decided to shed her fears and seek truth and justice. Its unsettling, haunting background score creates a high-stakes atmospheric tension and matches the film’s theme of psychological trauma. OCD, with its story, screenplay and dialogues also by Ghosal, releases in theatres on February 6.