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Critical

'Mirzapur' holds up a mirror to society—but is violence getting normalized in India?

The article critically examines the unsettling link between on-screen violence, like 'Mirzapur,' and real-world aggression, such as the Gurugram biker attack. It argues that routine media spectacles, especially against women, risk desensitizing audiences and normalizing brutality. While the media-behavior link is complex, repeated exposure can reduce empathy and increase acceptance of violence. The author warns against entertainment making violence feel ordinary in an already violent society. The core concern is becoming 'too good at watching' violence, blurring fiction and reality, and recognizing real violence when it occurs.

LiveMint · Tulsi Jayakumar · Sep 24, 2026 at 10:30 AM

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