COAT: A Film Depicting the Intersection of Caste and Poverty

COAT is a film that delves into the intersectionality of caste and poverty. Sanjay Mishra and Pooja Pandey are among the well-known faces who play lead roles in the film. In recent years, Bollywood has opened up to the stories of marginalized sections of society. For instance, Article 15 highlighted the caste system in villages while Madam Chief Minister starring Richa Chadda showcased the story of a Dalit woman who fought all odds to become Chief Minister. Other Bollywood films have made passing references to the caste system in the country.

A Pig-Rearing Protagonist

However, very few Bollywood films have had a Dalit protagonist, and COAT is among those "few and far between films." Madhav, a pig-rearing boy, is the lead character in the film. It tells the story of a lower-caste boy's aspirations. Madhav has never been able to afford new clothes but harbours an ambition to wear an imported piece of coat. Interestingly, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who belonged to an untouchable caste, wore the coat as his habiliment. The film's trailer was incidentally released on 14th April, the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

An Ensemble Cast of Actors

Vivaan Shah plays the lead role of Madhav in the film, with Sanjay Mishra appearing as his father. COAT also features Sonal Jha and Pooja Pandey in supporting roles. Speaking during the trailer launch, Vivaan Shah, who is Naseeruddin Shah's son, said, "I had to expand my thinking while performing the role. It opened my eyes to the circumstances of people who are not from my strata."

"It Is Wrong to Say That the Caste Does Not Exist"

In an interview with The Mooknayak, the film's co-producer, Kumar Abhishek, said that the story is about the aspirations of a Dalit boy who has nothing to eat and has never worn new clothes, but aspires to buy a coat. While other films on the topic of lower castes have only focused on oppression and murders of Dalits, this film bucks the trend and sends a message that anyone can achieve anything, irrespective of caste, if they are determined. The movie highlights making it big against heavy odds.

"I myself have struggled. I belong to an ordinary family, and when I came to Mumbai, I had no work. But, today, at the age of 29, I'm producing a film because of perseverance." He also notes that it is erroneous to say that there is no caste system in the country, and it still exists in villages.

Regional Films as Forerunners in Depicting the Privations of the Marginalized

COAT is perhaps the first Bollywood film to showcase the harsh realities of pig-rearing families. However, there have been other films in Marathi and other regional languages that captured the plight of people from marginalized communities. For example, Fandry by Nagraj Manjule tells the story of a pig-hunting boy who fantasizes about romance with an upper-caste girl in his class.