EXPLORING THE TANTRIC FIGURE IN SANGHARSH: A CINEMATIC INTERPRETATION

This article delves into the multifaceted depiction of the Tantric figure in the film Sangharsh (1999), focusing on its cultural, cinematic, and popular dimensions. It would primarily examine the presentation of the antagonist figure, Lajja Shankar Pandey who is portrayed as a Tantric practitioner engaging in human sacrifice to gain immortality and supernatural powers. By analysing the films narrative and portrayal of character, this study scrutinizes the cultural significance of the Tantric cult, and its representation as a source of fear and fascination. Also, it tries to connect this figure to its Western counterpart—the blood-sucking vampire who represents the cultural conflicts of class, power, and gender. Exploring similar aspect, this article would also focus on how the films depiction of Tantra aligns with broader cinematic trends in India, where mysticism and spirituality are often intertwined with moral and ethical dilemmas. Eventually, the article argues that Sangharsh presents a layered interpretation of the Tantric figure, blending cultural aspects and its cinematic dramatization to explore themes of power, mortality, and the supernatural.