Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan’s starrer film “Pathaan” joined the Boycott Bollywood Hashtag after the release of its first song “Besharam Rang”. Apparently, the costume is provocative and the colour is hurting religious sentiments and some sections of the people getting offended.
Pathaan’s Controversy
Boycott Bollywood isn’t just a hashtag but a serious movement. And once again, India and our political leaders are offended. Offended by what? The Saffron Colour. Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan’s starrer film “Pathaan” joined the Boycott Bollywood hashtag after the release of its first song. Apparently, the costume is provocative and the colour is hurting religious sentiments for some sections of the people. But it was unfathomable to see it become a national debate and such an important concern for the political leaders.” Besharam Rang” seems to have topped the list of petty things which offended the whole nation.
India’s film industries, a site of ideological and political contestation
People uniting to ensure that a fictional film isn’t released is another example of how hatred is driving society and politics. India is in the midst of a cultural war that started with the rise of religious nationalism under the Narendra Modi government.
Today’s politics asserts power and control because it understands the power of an image. And the potential of Indian Cinema as a “Soft Power. “Trying to Install an invented narrative to propagate its message, aiming to rewrite history is an attack on the secular space of Indian Cinema.
Bollywood may need to reform, but taking its autonomy is dangerous. Indian films have celebrated pluralistic India. The political Right appears to view Bollywood as representative of Liberals and Muslim figures. Making it a prime target and a threat to their “Hindutva Politics”.
Attack on Secular and Inclusive ethos
Censor Board has asked the makers to submit the revised version after the implementation of advised changes by the committee. Trust between creators and audience is most important to protect and filmmakers should be working towards the same- Prasoon Joshi, Chairperson of CBFC.” I must reiterate that our culture and faith are glorious, intricate and nuanced and we have to be careful that it does not get defined by trivia which takes the focus away from reality and the true.” Joshi Added. Some changes have been recommended to the ‘Besharam Rang’. But what the specific changes recommended isn’t known.
B.R. Ambedkar argued that “constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment. It has to be cultivated”. Beneath India’s inclusive secularism, there is a Hindu nationalism that has pervaded across India during the rule of Political Right Parties. It’s time to further our constitutional values and fight against the regressive forces that are colonizing our minds. And Films should be able to celebrate pluralistic India.
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