Challenging Perceptions and Engaging the Audience in "Rashomon" (1950) and "Bramayugam" (2024)

Cinema is often thought of as a passive medium stories unfold before our eyes, and we simply absorb them. But certain films challenge this notion, forcing viewers to question reality, participate in unraveling the narrative, and make their own judgments

Akira Kurosawa’s "Rashomon" (1950) and Rahul Sadasivan’s "Bramayugam" (2024) are two films that actively engage the audience by distorting perception, manipulating truth, and leaving interpretation open-ended. While one is a psychological drama and the other a supernatural horror, both demand that viewers take an active role in making sense of their stories 

Kurosawa’s Rashomon revolutionized storytelling with its use of multiple conflicting perspectives. The film presents a crime a samurai’s death and the possible assault of his wife through the eyes of four different characters, each telling a contradictory version of events

The audience is placed in a unique position rather than being passive spectators, they become judges, tasked with determining which account represents the truth. This approach, now known as the "Rashomon Effect," highlights the subjectivity of memory and perception 

We are forced to ask : Do people lie to protect themselves, or do they genuinely believe their own distorted reality?

Kurosawa’s brilliance lies in the fact that the film never provides a definitive answer. Instead, it reflects human nature, how individuals twist reality to fit their own narratives

The film becomes an exercise in critical thinking, making the viewer question not only the story but also their own biases

"Bramayugam" Perception vs. Reality in a Supernatural Setting

Where Rashomon deconstructs reality through differing testimonies, Bramayugam does so by immersing its protagonist and the audience into a world where reality is deliberately distorted

The film follows a man trapped in an eerie mansion with a mysterious figure (played by Mammootty), who exerts an unsettling influence over him. Unlike traditional horror films that rely on jump scares, Bramayugam uses psychological horror and unreliable storytelling to challenge perception. The audience, much like the protagonist, is constantly questioning 

Is what we’re seeing real, or is it an illusion?

Is the supernatural at play, or is it a construct of fear and psychological manipulation?

Who holds the power—the one who controls reality, or the one who resists it?

Engaging the Audience with Active Participation in Cinema

Both films prove that cinema can be more than just storytelling—it can be an interactive experience. Rather than providing clear answers, Rashomon and Bramayugam ask the audience to engage in the narrative, question the reliability of what they see, and ultimately form their own conclusions 

This kind of storytelling, Encourages critical thinking (What is truth? Who decides it?), Makes the audience emotionally think (Who do we trust? Who do we fear?), Leaves a lasting impact (What does this film say about human nature?)

While Rashomon challenges the subjectivity of truth, Bramayugam explores the fragility of perception, proving that reality in cinema is never absolute. Both films blur the lines between fiction and reality, demanding that we, as viewers, step beyond passive consumption and actively engage with the unknown.