Page - 43 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 07/02

Validating Demons | 43www.jrfm.eu 2021, 7/2, 31–53 where there are political conflicts is part of contemporary social reality.42 In the film, Dev is trying to do his work by catching Bīrā because he is a high-profile criminal, but he is surrounded by a corrupt and faulty police system. He is also overpowered by his ambition to succeed in this mission, and thus chooses to appear at the wedding of Bīrā’s sister, Jamuniyā. The ceremony is interrupted and Bīrā is shot but manages to escape. Jamuniyā is captured forcefully, hauled off by her nose and ears and taken to the police station where she is raped and afterwards commits suicide. In revenge, Bīrā kidnaps Dev’s wife. Bīrā painfully narrates what happened to his sister, and Rāginī is touched by this tragedy. Rāginī talks to a Viṣṇu statue after learn- ing about these ulterior motives behind her captivity. When Bīrā arrives at this location, he talks about his love and refers to himself as “an animal, uncouth” and “a worm”, a trope to signal otherness. As a policeman, Dev is in a privileged position, whereas Bīrā is a man from the forest. His pure love, however, makes him appear greater. The conversation unfolds as follows: RĀGINĪ, talking to God: You are making me cry. I don’t want to cry. Just let me be angry, don’t lessen my anger. Don’t show me any of the good qualities or innocence of these people. I am not weak, don’t make me weak. Can’t you do that much for me? Rāginī sees Bīrā sitting close by. BĪRĀ: Did I come here at the wrong time? What kind of man is he? Your Superintendent of Police? Just a good man or a very good man? RĀGINĪ: He is a god! Is that enough? BĪRĀ: Tell me about your god? No, don’t give me an answer. I know. He is great; he has a big heart and is high minded. Does he love you very much? RĀGINĪ: Yes, he does. BĪRĀ: And you? I’m burning with jealousy, I’m burning up. Burning as if my damn soul was on fire. Burn, burn, keep on burning and burn even more. Burn so that the whole damn world will say that until today no- body has ever burned like Bīrā. I used to think “I am an animal, uncouth and I desire you. I’m a worm, a worm! Where are you? And, where am I? Where’s your lord?” But now that I’m burning up, it seems that nobody is stronger than me. Jealousy is the fate of the fortunate people.43 42 Sundar 2019 refers to these issues in Central India. 43 Raavan (Mani Ratnam, IN 2010), 01:28:35.