<div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-size:15px;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><p>The recent Korean drama series Extraordinary Attorney Woo has been a phenomenal success with viewers around the globe. The titular character-Woo Young Woo- plays an attorney with autistic spectrum disorder. She is a brilliant young woman with eidetic memory, high IQ and a genius in legal matters.<br>This heart-warming, delightful series showcases Attorney Woo Young Woo’s struggles with her autistic disability in her work place as well as in her personal life as she faces rejection, humiliation and ridicule. <br>The makers of the show send a solid message of acceptance and understanding through other strong characters in the show, who offer unconditional support and love for Woo, by helping her overcome and triumph in her tough battles with herself and the world around her.<br>The show is a bold attempt at autistic representation that continues to remains a subject of taboo and a social stigma associated with shame, even in advanced nations like South Korea. <br>Let’s take a look at Indian cinema’s contribution in highlighting and bringing awareness about the topic of autism spectrum disorder through their central characters. While they may not be an accurate portrayal, these stories have touched and moved audiences in India and abroad; some have impacted many Indian parents in recognizing the disorder and in reaching out to children on the spectrum.<br><br></p><span></div><div style='text-align:center;'><img height='400px' width='auto;' class='img_dynaPost' src='/BlitzMobiImages/consumers/company551995499/mediafiles/A2DBnkde13.tmp'/></div><div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-size:15px;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><p><u>Anjali (1990)</u><br>A sensitively made movie, Anjali tells the story of a 4-year-old girl, who is diagnosed with a developmental disorder. The screenplay highlights the mental agony and pain of her parents, an upper middle-class family, who are faced with the challenges of dealing with the daughter and the judgmental society around them. <br>Actress Shamili as Anjali was fantastic in the lead role. <br>Watch the movie to know what happens to Anjali.<br>Director: Mani Ratnam<br>Actors: Baby Shamili, Revathi, Raghuvaran<br>Language: Tamil<br>Music: Ilayaraja<br></p><span></div><div style='text-align:center;'><img height='400px' width='auto;' class='img_dynaPost' src='/BlitzMobiImages/consumers/company551995499/mediafiles/xKRpSD4i17.tmp'/></div><div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-size:15px;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><p><p><u>Tare Zameen Par (2007)</u><br>(Like stars on Earth)<br>The story explores the life and difficulties of Ishaan, an 8-year-old dyslexic child. Ishaan’s parents often express their disappointment in his failing grades although he excels in art. He’s sent off to a boarding school where an art teacher, Nikumbh, brings happiness into Ishaan’s life.<br>The movie became an overnight sensation and made a huge impact on the burgeoning urban mindsets: by bringing awareness about learning disabilities and dyslexia. Many children with dyslexia were identified and special learning was instituted to tutor them.<br>Director: Aamir Khan<br>Actors: Aamir Khan, Darsheel Safary<br>Language: Hindi<br>Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy<br></p></p><span></div><div style='text-align:center;'><img height='400px' width='auto;' class='img_dynaPost' src='/BlitzMobiImages/consumers/company551995499/mediafiles/ggsYam2n18.tmp'/></div><div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-size:15px;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><p><u>Swathimuthyam (1986)</u><br>(White Pearl)<br>The ‘White Pearl’ is a figurative reference to the autistic hero, played by Kamal Hassan, suggesting innocence, kind heartedness and purity. Narrated as a flashback, the story is about Sivayya, an intellectually challenged young man whose life crosses paths with a young, widowed mother, Lalitha. The story addresses many social stigmas that Sivayya and Lalitha encounter, individually and as a couple.<br>Director: K. Vishwanath<br>Cast: Kamal Hassan, Radhika<br>Language: Telugu<br>Music: Ilayaraja<br><br></p><br><span></div><div style='text-align:center;'><img height='400px' width='auto;' class='img_dynaPost' src='/BlitzMobiImages/consumers/company551995499/mediafiles/27rmbraK19.tmp'/></div><div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-size:15px;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><p><u>Barfi (2012)</u><br>Barfi is an affectionate and emotional story that runs between three characters- Barfi, Shruti and Jhilmil. Barfi is a deaf and mute young boy and Jhilmil is an autistic young girl, who is Barfi’s childhood friend. Jhilmil’s struggle with her emotions and her awkward social skills are well brought out and very convincingly performed by Priyanka Chopra Jonas<br>The story has several comedic and touching moments between Barfi and Jhilmil that move the audience. <br>Director: Anurag Basu<br>Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Illeana D’Cruz<br>Language: Hindi<br>Music: Pritam<br></p><br><span></div><div style='text-align:center;'><img height='400px' width='auto;' class='img_dynaPost' src='/BlitzMobiImages/consumers/company551995499/mediafiles/xnh85HWk20.tmp'/></div><div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-size:15px;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><p><u>My name is Khan (2013)</u><br>The movie, My name is Khan, is about Rizwan Khan, who suffers from Asperger syndrome. Rizwan meets Mandira in San Francisco and finds love and acceptance from her. Following 9/11 attacks when Islamophobia gripped the country, Rizwan is caught in the web of hatred, distrust and branded a terrorist. How Rizwan proves his innocence, and what happens to his relationship with Mandira forms the rest of the story.<br>The movie touched upon the sensitive issues of autistic spectrum disorder, and religious discrimination that was a major issue in the country. <br>Director: Karan Johar<br>Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol<br>Language: Hindi<br>Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy<br>We hope you enjoyed our list and reviews. Send us your comments and recommendations.<br></p><br><span></div>