“I Thought I Was Living in a Democracy”: Suhasini Mulay Flags Threats to Media Freedom

Suhasini Mulay took centre stage at the Gauhati Press Club on Sunday evening, not just as a celebrated artiste but as a sharp, uncompromising voice of conscience.

The veteran actress and documentary filmmaker was hosted as the Press Club’s ‘Guest of the Month’, where the five-time National Award winner interacted candidly with local journalists in a session moderated by senior journalist and Gauhati Press Club president Khagen Kalita.

From the very beginning, Mulay set the tone of the evening by speaking forthrightly on issues that concern her deeply. Known for her bold and unfiltered opinions, she opened the interaction by expressing serious concern over the current state of press freedom in the country.

“Media freedom is under attack these days; I feel very strongly about it. We have reached a stage where everyone who is not conforming is dealt with strongly. Journalists are arrested for asking questions; people are arrested for joining a protest. I thought I was living in a democracy where we are allowed to ask questions and have discussions but that doesn’t seem to be happening anymore,” Mulay said, drawing attentive silence from the room.

She also shared her disappointment over recent changes being made to the Right to Information (RTI) framework, warning that these amendments would directly affect transparency in governance — something she described as essential for a functioning democracy.

During the interaction, Mulay spoke at length about her personal journey, recalling her childhood and the influence of her mother, Vijaya Mulay, an eminent film historian and documentary filmmaker. She also reflected on her education in Canada and her subsequent journey through both commercial and parallel cinema, carving out a body of work marked by depth, diversity and conviction.

With over four decades in the film industry, Mulay noted how cinema has transformed over the years. She said she is happy that filmmaking has become far more democratic with the advent of digital technology.

“With smartphones in every hand, everybody has the scope to say their thing, whether good or bad, which is an exciting time to be in. The entire population can talk,” she said, describing the present moment as one of unprecedented creative possibility.

Recounting her association with acclaimed filmmaker Jahnu Barua, Mulay shared a memorable anecdote about how she came to be part of his film Aparoopa.

“We used to often meet outside film studios. He was living with Kulbhushan Kharbanda at a PG and I met him there many times. Aparoopa was funded by NFDC and in those days it took quite a while for the money to be released. By the time Jahnu was ready to shoot, his actress became unavailable as she got pregnant. That’s when he approached me. My only question was where would he shoot, and when he said Assam, I instantly agreed. I wanted to visit Assam,” Mulay recalled.

The actress also spoke about the long-standing divide between commercial and parallel cinema, observing that films have always followed these two distinct paths. However, she expressed concern over the increasingly political nature of mainstream commercial cinema today.

“Religious dominance is the norm and there’s incredible projection of violence, both mental and physical. And there’s also the huge question of otherisation of indigenous people and minorities, not just Muslims, but all minorities,” she said.

For Mulay, cinema must do more than merely entertain. She stressed that films need to be effective — capable of provoking thought and dialogue.

“Firstly, a film is good if it’s not boring. People make well-intentioned films, but it’s important to have well-made films that make you think,” she said, underlining her belief in purposeful storytelling.

Having already produced more than 60 documentaries, Mulay revealed that she still nurtures an unfulfilled dream. She now plans to make a feature film — a long-cherished ambition she hopes to realise soon.

“That is an ‘adhura sapna’ which I have. I don’t know how good or bad the film will be, but I plan to make one for sure,” she said, leaving the audience with a glimpse of what may yet come from one of Indian cinema’s most thoughtful voices.

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