Pitra, putra aur dharamyuddha

In this two-part film, the most prominent Indian documentary director Anand Patwardhan boldly questions the notion of manhood, connecting it with war, violence and terror. He explores the possibility that the psychology of violent behaviour lies in male insecurity. In the first part, , Patwardhan examines the notion of the Hindu legacy of Sati, in which the wife is sacrificed on the husband's funeral pyre. This custom is currently forbidden by law but still practiced in some places. From Sati's fire, the story shifts to upper-caste purifying rituals and the Bombay Riots of the early 1990s.
In the second part, , the notion of "manhood" is analysed in the context of religious stories and teachings. For example, how Hindu mythology supports the belief that Muslims brought violence, destruction and rape to the subcontinent. Today, these teachings continue to evoke feelings of revenge, anger and religious intolerance. What is the consequence for Indian Muslims? How does "manhood" in both ethnicities react? Is the world ruled by the "macho" man? These are the contemplations of the director, who has had to fight in court to get his films shown.