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From Screen to Crime Scen: Cinematic Imitation and Criminal Psychology in Malayalam Cinema

From Screen to Crime Scen: Cinematic Imitation and Criminal Psychology in Malayalam Cinema
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Author(s): Mohammad Amin Wani (Lovely Professional University, India)and Adheena Rajeev (Lovely Professional University, India)
Copyright: 2026
Pages: 28
Source title: Examining Social Psychology in Virtual Environments
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Ruqia Safdar Bajwa (Bahauddin Zakariya University, Pakistan), Sarwat Sultan (Bahauddin Zakariya University, Pakistan)and Asma Yunus (University of Sargodha, Pakistan)
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3373-5896-3.ch008

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Abstract

This chapter examines how Malayalam cinema, particularly films like Drishyam (2013), Marco (2022), Pani (2023), and Aavesham (2024), intersects with psychology and criminology through its engagement with realism, moral ambiguity, and cultural specificity. Using theories such as social learning, cognitive scripts, cultivation, and cultural criminology, it explores how cinematic narratives shape identity, moral reasoning, and imitation, especially in the digital era. The rise of OTT platforms and social media has intensified ‘cinematic imitation' and real-life ‘copycat crimes' in India, rooted in moral disengagement and subcultural identity. Cinema emerges as both a potential trigger for deviant behavior and a tool for ethical reflection. The chapter concludes by advocating for media literacy and interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce harm while preserving artistic freedom.

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