‘Jigra’ captures modern India’s confusion: Why chase morality if you can thrive without it?

Morality in India is not a personal and self-constructed concept. It is something that is frequently influenced by what society teaches us, what is required of us, and what religious systems impose.

Alia Bhatt in a still from Jigra | Image Source: Alia Bhatt/Instagram

There are a few things Indians abroad simply can’t do without—Indian food, Indian spices, and Bollywood. Wherever Indians go, they create little spaces for these essentials to carry a piece of home with them. I am no different. Living in London, one of the most diverse cities in the world, I have often found myself drawn to pockets of ‘home’—a familiar restaurant, or a film that takes me back.

So, when I got the chance to watch Alia Bhatt’s Jigra with my friends in London, I jumped right in. The fact that they were from different cultural backgrounds only added to my happiness. Not only did the experience of watching the movie become satisfying for the Indian inside me, but it also turned into a moment of cultural exchange. Cinema, after all, is one of the richest reflections of a country’s heart and soul.

Some may argue that Bollywood, with its over-the-top glamour and often unrealistic portrayals, does not always represent India accurately. But it does reflect society in its own special way. To me, it was obvious that Jigra, while made for the purpose of entertainment, posed a subtle challenge to societal beliefs. Instead of a man protecting his family, it showed a woman risking it all for her loved ones.

Jigra cleverly subverts gender norms, casting a woman as her brother’s protector. It shows that strength and protection aren’t the domains of men alone. As an Indian woman, I really admire that.

The movie offers some impressive action scenes, showcasing how rapidly Bollywood is evolving, especially on the technical front. It was also refreshing to see a storyline without the usual romantic subplot.

What really bothered me, however, was the moral framework of the lead character Satya (Bhatt), who faces no repercussions for her actions, which involve breaking into a foreign jail to save her brother Ankur. It’s as though her questionable decisions are justified simply because they were made out of loyalty to her brother. Satya’s disregard for other human beings and government officials is almost glorified.

Modern India’s moral dilemmas

It’s not that Jigra overlooks the moral aspect entirely; another character, who initially partnered with Bhatt, tries to stop her on moral grounds. But after that moment, the film lets the conversation fade away, leaving the issue unresolved. Jigra combines narrow and wide, traditional and modern, and Western and Indian moral ideas incongruously, offering no clear stance.

This left me wondering whether the movie unintentionally reflected the state of confusion many Indians feel in the 21st century—torn between individual survival, family loyalty, social harmony, and a growing awareness of broader moral concerns. The film, in its ambiguity, may be capturing the moral dilemmas that modern India is grappling with.

To be honest, many in India have come to believe that with enough money and power, they can get away with almost anything. The lack of consequences for causing harm to others no longer shocks us. And it’s troubling to see how films like Jigra reflect and validate this mindset. It perhaps mirrors a troubling reality in contemporary Indian society: Why adhere to a moral framework when those without one seem to thrive effortlessly?

Do we value our institutions?

Another unsettling truth Jigra highlights is our diminishing respect for the system. For some reason, deceiving authorities to protect loved ones is seen as acceptable, as though we have no higher moral obligation to society. It raises a question about how much we value institutional integrity in the face of personal loyalty. Those who uphold the system are portrayed as villains without any valid reason to back the assertion.

The problem is that morality in India is not a personal and self-constructed concept. It is frequently influenced by what society teaches us, what is required of us, and what religious systems impose. It’s easy to see why people might abandon it if they find personal gain in doing so. There’s no sense of guilt because the values were never truly understood or internalised—they were simply inherited or followed out of obligation. To me, this movie depicts something similar.

While being influenced by society and cultural history has its value, there’s a greater need to emphasise personal moral autonomy and the development of an individual ethical framework. Education, secular reasoning, and philosophical reflection can help achieve that.

Amana Begam Ansari is a columnist. She runs a weekly YouTube show called ‘India This Week by Amana and Khalid’. She tweets @Amana_Ansari. Views are personal.

(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)