These movies purport to depict the authentic narrative of India’s past, attacking the wrongdoing of “leftists” and “intellectuals” as well as esteemed freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi.
As the upcoming election approaches, Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) are aiming for a third consecutive term. This has sparked a strong wave of pro-government support in Bollywood, creating a blurred boundary between popular culture and political promotion within India’s biggest film industry.
Around twelve recent movies have been produced to support the Prime Minister and his government’s Hindu nationalist beliefs and policies. These films will either already be showing or will be released in the near future. The upcoming election, which will determine the path of the nation for the next five years, commences on 19 April and will last for six weeks.
Critics and experts in the filmmaking industry have called out a number of movies for promoting harmful and inaccurate views about Islam and perpetuating false conspiracies against Muslims. These films have also faced criticism for singling out left-leaning activists and intellectuals by using the derogatory term “urban naxals,” favored by certain Hindu conservatives. There is concern among some within the industry that these movies will only serve to deepen religious divides within India.
A motion picture created by a politician from the BJP party has generated controversy for its inflammatory depiction of Muslims, leading to legal action in attempts to block its release.
The recent surge in pro-government movies brings to mind the prelude to the 2019 election, wherein a biopic of Modi was deemed overly favorable towards him, leading the election commission to delay its release until after the polls.
According to Sayandeb Chowdhury, a literature professor at Krea University in Chennai who has studied Indian cinema, these films are “boldly spreading biased messages to exploit divisions and further the political goals of the government.”
He noted that Modi and other officials had specifically mentioned several films in their speeches. He stated that film has now become a means of political mobilization.
A highly anticipated film releasing in Indian theaters tells the story of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a controversial Hindu nationalist politician and activist praised by Modi, who fought against British imperialism. Despite his achievements, his literature promotes aggression towards Muslims and shows support for the Nazis and Italian fascists.
Last month’s release of Article 370 is a clear display of Modi’s decision to remove statehood from Kashmir, a predominantly Muslim region. It depicts him as a resolute leader who is rescuing India from issues of violence and dishonesty. While Modi received praise for the film, some critics have labeled it as “inaccurate”.
A new movie targets Jawaharlal Nehru University, a renowned center for leftist ideologies and protests. Releasing in April, “Jahangir National University” portrays a campus overrun by “leftists promoting love jihad” – a false accusation against Muslims- and “urban naxals seeking to divide the nation.”
Chowdhury stated that the recent releases reflected a significant pattern in Bollywood, where the movie industry has been increasingly influenced during the ten years of Modi’s leadership, even though it has traditionally remained neutral towards politics.
He expressed regret that Bollywood, a unifying force for Indians regardless of religious and cultural distinctions, was being used to incite discord, to significant success. He stated, “If film becomes a means of creating division, one of India’s most beloved symbols of unity is at risk of permanent loss.”
As the frequency of films supporting the BJP’s agenda grows, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon have encountered legal challenges and had to take down shows and movies that were perceived as being opposed to the government.
Chowdhury stated that the pivotal moment was the release of The Kashmir Files in 2022. The film claimed to reveal the true account of the Hindu exodus from the region. Despite facing criticism for its negative depiction of Muslims and being accused of distorting history for the sake of polarization, it became the top-grossing hit of the year.
There has been an influx of movies with similar themes that aim to depict history, often demonizing Muslims. These films are viewed as a larger effort by the BJP to alter the narrative of India’s history.
The latest film, Razakar: Silent Genocide of Hyderabad, is facing accusations of being Islamophobic due to its biased depiction of a Muslim leader. The producer has stated that the film, like Kashmir Files, is completely factual and does not contain any commercial additions.
Film critic and Bollywood screenwriter, Raja Sen, shared with the Associated Press that numerous filmmakers are now following the trend, recognizing the potential for blockbuster success with controversial films that spark public debate.
“It is truly terrifying that these films are now being embraced,” stated Sen. “The fact that they are is truly alarming.”
Source: theguardian.com
