“You WhatsApp me the details of your husband and yourself and I will make him fit as a horse. You will need to deposit Rs 3,000 in my bank account. I’ve been doing this for 18 years and have successfully treated many patients for sexual problems,” says Radheshyam, a tantrik. The baba, who doesn’t know the term Erectile Dysfunction (ED), adds that he can cure any man’s sexual problems without the patient even visiting him. While he claims his tantrik kriya over three days will cure ED, other babas charge hefty sums for ‘herbs from Himalayas’ to cure it. The taboo surrounding the ailment ensures them a steady clientele.
There’s an uncomfortable silence surrounding the topic of erectile dysfunction, and many find it difficult to acknowledge the problem as a medical ailment. However, breaking the silence on this subject is the upcoming film Shubh Mangal Savdhan by director R.S. Prasanna. Whether the movie change attitudes about the issue remains to be seen. But the fact that this “taboo” topic is being explored in a mainstream movie is a welcome move.
Relationship counsellor Dr Kamal Khurana feels that much of the problem has to do with psychology. “Ninety-nine per cent of ED disorders happen because of psychological problems. So instead of visiting a sexologist or a psychiatrist, people end up going to these babas. Since no one talks about ED openly, the babas gain a name for themselves.”
While it remains to be seen how the film fares with CBFC, director Avinash Das says, “ED affects more people than one would like to believe and it is great that this film is being made. These are the types of films that the society needs.”
About whether this film could give more people the courage to consult doctors freely, psychiatrist and sexologist Dr Ashish Mittal says, “I hope it does. A lot of times people don’t know who to consult for sexual problems. People could have ED for various reasons like anxiety, depression, skin problems, psychological issues etc. When one visits alternative practitioners for ED, they never really diagnose the root cause. One is simply prescribed some medicine. Allopathic doctors cannot advertise but alternative healers can and a lot of conmen abuse this, especially in case of sexual problems.”
