The Snake Charmer

Aamir Khan is one of the leading Bollywood actors in India today. He became a star of Hindi cinema in the 1980s, and his films have been the highest grossing Bollywood films of all time. Until recently, Khan was used to portraying macho men on a quest for vengeance and belonged to an industry accused of encouraging sexual violence against women. Yet in 2012, Khan’s career took an unexpected turn, when he created ‘Satyamev Jayate’, the first prime-time TV show in India to expose the country’s most critical social issues. Khan became the first Bollywood star to openly talk about rape, female feticide, dowry payments and domestic violence. The film follows Khan, as he attempts to change the way Indians perceive and treat women. Interviews with leading Bollywood directors, producers and fellow actors, help to explore further the role of cinema and TV in shaping values and mentalities in Indian society during the last thirty years. We also meet women who have taken part in Khan’s show, and discover how their lives have been affected by speaking out in public. In parallel, we explore the controversy that Khan has created, listening to critical voices that are questioning his motives and protesting against his work. Khan’s quest ultimately opens a window into a country in crisis and to the changes it is undergoing.