Bollywood embraces jingoism

The element of jingoism is no longer restricted to certain films in Bollywood. In the era of Narendra Modi, Bollywood is becoming more political and patriotic than ever. This observation comes from not one but two separate pieces, printed in the Daily O and The Wire India respectively.

Writing for The Daily O, Vivashwan Singh notes, “Bollywood has been influencing social constructions of Indian identity, and affecting political change as well since decades. But the industry is now being shaped by political pressures, decisions, and negotiations.”

The piece notes how Amitabh Bachchan “played a key role in positioning the spotlight on Narendra Modi, before he could possibly be India’s Prime Minister. Narendra Modi was no doubt popular in Gujarat, but it was Bachchan’s endorsement of Gujarat tourism that helped in enhancing the prime ministerial candidate’s image across the country. This coupled with the release of Bhoothnath Returns (which was based on politics) amid Lok Sabha elections might also have turned in favour of BJP. After Narendra Modi’s coming to power, Bachchan was also appointed as an ambassador for the Swachh Bharat campaign. In 2016, despite having his name in Panama Papers, Bachchan shared the dais with the prime minister on the celebration of the completion of two years of the BJP government.”

The piece names other power players such as Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar, all of whom have, for one reason or another, endorsed the jingoism presently in play.

While Shah Rukh Khan did speak about growing intolerance in India in 2015, he received strong criticism from current Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and BJP national general secretary, Kailash Vijaywargiya and eventually retracted his statement ahead of the release of his film, Dilwale.

A year later, after Aamir Khan made comments related to growing intolerance critical of the Modi govt, he too faced the wrath of the ruling BJP. “He was also dropped as brand ambassador by Snapdeal due to the same reason. However, things turned favourable for Aamir Khan after he joined BJP-led Maharashtra government’s water conservation cause. He also attended a private dinner hosted by Modi in February 2016 in Delhi.

The Daily O piece went out to state the “new poster boy of nationalism, actor Akshay Kumar through his recent choice of films — Holiday, Gabbar Is Back, Baby, Airlift, Rustom, Toilet, or Padman — has spoken volumes about his political inclination. The discussions around his political perspectives and newfound love for the ruling party reached its peak when he won the National Award as Best Actor for Rustom. Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, a film which promotes the Union government’s flagship campaign, Swachh Bharat, was pro-establishment.”

And things turned in Modi’s favour further after he made “his iconic demonetisation speech,” with Bollywood actors including Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rajinikanth, and Shahid Kapoor supporting it.

The jingoism will stay alive and in place for some time. As Sidharth Bhatia noted in The Wire India, “Now a new element has been introduced into films – a jingoistic fervour that coincides with not just the frenzied nationalism seen on social media and in certain sections of society but also synchronises well with the agenda of the government of the day.

There are many examples of this, but nothing as gratuitous – obscenely so – than the scene in Baaghi 2 in which our brave hero ties a Kashmiri to the bonnet of his jeep and uses him as a human shield. He does this because he is angry at the alleged desecration of the Indian flag.

Neo-nationalism Bollywood style takes several forms and shapes. At one end is the triumphalist narrative, showing bravery in the face of adversity, whether on the sports field – Sultan – or the battle ground, such as the forthcoming Parmanu, about the nuclear test by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998.

There are films that have a somewhat different take on current events too, such as Newton, about a bemused election official who goes to an area where Maoists operate. But they remain the ‘small’ films, indie projects that the high-wattage stars don’t work in. The star’s presence in a film does not just improve its commercial prospects and salability but also lends weight to the messaging. Few stars will want to be in a film that takes an off-centre or dissident view of national issues. Anything that smacks of politics in its widest sense, is off-limits for the big stars – the risks are too great. As for satire – forget it.

A new kind of ideal Indian is being created by mainstream, big budget Hindi cinema – one who is honest, patriotic, righteous to the point of sanctimony, concerned about social issues (which are in step with the government’s missions) and against anyone who is inimical to India that is Hindustan. He, and occasionally she, must bring home the medal, kill the enemy and fight all outsiders, whether they be Muslims or white-skinned colonialists.

Films like these were made in the past too, but either they were layered – such as the excellent Chak De! India, which explored the inner demons of a Muslim coach – or so full of commercial masala that they could not be taken seriously, like Mard, in which Bachchan fought the Englishman. Today, there is no room for angst or irony.”

– With information from The Wire India and The Daily O