NAME : Shreyansh Agarwal

Title: Ethical Dilemmas in Marriage and Parenthood: A Case Study of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna

Through its filmmaking practice Bollywood provides reflective perspectives about social values
alongside marital and familial disputes. Through its 2006 release Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (directed by
Karan Johar) examines failed marriages and affairs between spouses together with their social
consequences on children and surrounding communities. The film presents three significant ethical
dilemmas which include first marital infidelity followed by parental abandonment of responsibilities
combined with the ethical problems that arise when remaining in an unhappy situation to preserve
social standing and safeguard childrens' well-being. The ethical issues in this analysis derive their
interpretation from theories found in the notes on marriage and family ethics.

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Ethical Issue 1: Infidelity and the Romantic View of Marriage

The leading moral problem the movie presents is infidelity relationship between spouses. Dev (Shah
Rukh Khan) starts a love affair with Maya (Rani Mukerji) even though they remain married to
different people. Throughout the film the director rejects unrealistic marriage expectations that
emphasize love and passion instead of enduring commitment. As explained in the lecture notes this
approach proves dangerous because feeling-based decisions risk breaching moral responsibilities.

According to traditional perspectives marriage requires absolute commitment and support stronger
than shifts in emotions. Their adulterous behavior breaks the faithful promises that Dev and Maya
made with their spouses thus violating ethical standards of traditional marriage along with
contractual marriage principles. The contractual perspective suggests marital flexibility for personal
happiness yet using this view still indicates that dishonest communications represent moral
wrongdoing.

Dev's perception reveals that his barren union with wife Rhea (Preity Zinta) exists because she puts
professional success before all else and so he remains emotionally detached. Maya experiences
much of the same emptiness in her marriage with Rishi since he controls her too much. Despite their
legitimacy in finding outside emotional intimacy both partners lack open communication with their
spouses which results in damaging their marriages.

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Ethical Issue 2: Parental Responsibility and Neglect

Arjun represents their only child with Dev and Rhea. At the same time Dev deepens his feelings for
Maya he shows less and less interest in his son. His bitterness about his failed football career and his
failed marriage further distances him from his child.

Ethical analysis reveals that parents need to secure their children's feelings apart from giving them
material support. According to the ethical theory which addresses vulnerability and parental
obligation (frontier coursework materials) children hold moral grounds for getting support and
stability due to their dependent nature. Dev's inappropriate actions lead to destructive harm of his
son demonstrating negligent mistreatment.

The concept of parental licensing issued by Hugh LaFollette applies directly to this discussion. By
parenting standards that parallel medical or driving competence requirements Dev would be
considered an unfit parent because his emotional instability and non-involvement with Caleb.
Even though Arjun is still a child his emotional state indicates some damage. The way Dev views the
problems facing his son reveals his own personal failures. Although Rhea attempts to preserve
everyday life she struggles to show genuine attention since her professional work demands most of
her attention. Social failure affects everyone yet Dev's active participation in the extramarital
relationship results in significant additional damage.

Ethical Issue 3: Staying in an Unhappy Marriage for Social Image or Children

A person makes the decision to stay within an unhappy union because social expectations or
concerns about children.

The married individuals begin by keeping up appearances of marital happiness during times when
they experience deep emotional unhappiness. Rishi and Maya maintain their relationship for social
reasons which burden her conscience while Dev and Rhea confront their deteriorating marriage
because they want to provide stability for Arjun. The moral dilemma arises whether people ought to
stay in a marriage because society expects them to or because they have children together.

Repudiating common marriage morality which advocates persistent partnership through weakness
and wickedness presents a radical critique because emotional encumbrance affects the spouses
equally. In accordance with radical beliefs institutions can become oppressive particularly in
situations where one partner mainly the woman lacks decision-making freedom.

According to utilitarian ethics separation could prove more ethical if remaining together would result
in more psychological or emotional damage for anyone involved. Both adults and children must
receive empathy, open communication and accountability as care ethics demand every affected party
receives this treatment.

In their relationship Rishi exercises domination through emotional control of Maya and he maintains
the belief that ownership defines love instead of genuine partnership. Dev uses his position of
bitterness to provide himself with reason to stay detached from his family yet Rhea continues
clinging to the dream of maintaining a typical conventional family. When people do not openly
communicate about personal needs compared to social expectations they and everyone else endure
collective pain.

Conclusion:

Ethical Position Multiple complex ethical matters flow through the narrative of Kabhi Alvida Naa
Kehna. People should value personal happiness but ethical standards demand openness about
personal conduct together with respect for promises made while being duty-bound to children.
Marital issues that create harm to other people constitute ethical problems in the eyes of ethical
standards. The characters do not fulfill their moral obligations according to the traditional and
vulnerability-based theories. Based on radical and contractual approaches we may evaluate how
strict social standards together with untruthful communication create these issues. The practice of
falling out of love counts as human experience yet ethical behavior warrants both willingness to
speak truthfully to exit relationships honorably beyond hiding or deserting someone. Every parent
has an obligation to maintain emotional presence in order to yield equal results as material
necessities for child development. Showing genuine moral conduct means picking empathy and
honesty and taking responsibility during times when the decisions become difficult.