The Power of Empathy: Watching Raj Kundra's UT-69 in a Theatre

Key Highlights :

1. Lock Upp is a reality show where semi-celeb types, dressed in jail uniforms, live like inmates in a fake prison.

2. The show is based on the idea that this will make for an interesting journalistic piece on what happens to human behaviour, when forced to live with strangers.

3. The show would take about eight weeks of fake incarceration, which is too long a self-inflicted torture to endure.

4. The key points are that Lock Upp is based on the idea that this will make for an interesting journalistic piece, and that the show would take about eight weeks of fake incarceration, which is too long a self-inflicted torture to endure.

     The reality show, Lock Upp, has been gaining popularity lately, as semi-celebrities dressed in jail uniforms compete for a grand prize and audience’s pleasure. But it’s not just the show that has been grabbing attention. Serial entrepreneur Raj Kundra’s prison diaries, UT-69, which he shot while in Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail, have been making waves. Surprisingly, the movie is really good.

     Kundra was arrested on charges of producing consensual pornographic content and was forced to stay in jail for 63 days. It was an experience that he never chose, unlike Shilpa Shetty who won the British reality show, Big Brother. Kundra and Shetty later met and fell in love, and eventually married.

     Kundra’s experience in jail, and his movie, UT-69, offer a unique insight into the dehumanizing effects of incarceration. In the film, we see Kundra stripped naked, random belting of inmates, three-minute phone calls with family, bullet-proof rotis for food, 246 people packed into a room meant for 45, and sleeping, literally, butt-cheek by jowl.

     Kundra’s movie offers an intimate look at the lives of those in prison, and it’s an important reminder of the systemic injustice faced by those who are presumed guilty. The film also offers a unique perspective on the lockdown, as Kundra was imprisoned in 2021 during the pandemic. While the lockdown was difficult for its lack of social interaction, the jail is the exact opposite, and the film offers empathy and understanding for the lives of others in the room.

     Ultimately, UT-69 is an unpretentious movie that shows the power of empathy. It’s a reminder of the importance of understanding the lives of those around us, and it’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit. Kundra’s movie is a must-watch for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of the reality of prison life.

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