There came an era of angry youngman, Amitabh. But these years saw another transition.
Minority appeasement of political leadership had become a trend.
Can we have some other Gods meaning from other religions? In 'Deewar', Amitabh does not believe in God, questions God Shiva !! But see the coincidence, he is saved from bullets by 'number 786'.
'Dhurandhar' is going great guns but it has apparently one section of Indians - the Sickular brigade. They did not mind Amitabh (Vijay) screaming and gesturing before 'tolerant' Hindu God Shiva; for Shiva being shown as crawling inside a toilet was creative freedom for Amir Khan-starred "PK'.
The film had incidentally showed one of the Pakistan embassies as a centre of 'liberalism'. But for the same intellectuals and even Muslim population - Dhurandhar is intolerable. The truth is bitter and when its bitter; it has to be unpalatable !
Multiple Gulf countries have banned the film.
Some say -- the movie is so true and appears so real because it portrays certain brutal "realism".
A 2016 study from the University of Oxford found that films with high emotional intensity trigger the release of endorphins. In simple terms, when viewers experience pain (together) through a story, the brain registers it as controlled distress and responds by offering relief (to all in the same space), says an 'India Today' article.
Typically in Indian context; it is said family pressure, unresolved trauma, loneliness, exhaustion, moral confusion — these are still treated as deeply private, sometimes even a taboo to be discussed in the open.
However; Cinema, then, becomes the place where those emotions are allowed to breathe.
In 2022, 'The Kashmir Files' written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri presents a fictional storyline
centred around what happened to Kashmiri pandits in Jammu and Kashmir.
The film talks about cultural genocide.
"Kya Kashmiri Pandit ko apne ghar jaane ka mauka milega? Is this justice?" The refrain so far has been to not ask these uncomfortable questions.
In Hindi films, a nice person who comes to help the hero or his family or a kid is mostly - if not always - a Muslim or a Christian. In blockbuster 'Sholay', among all the villagers, it is the Imam says he is ready to sacrifice his son !
Occasionally Sikhs may be lucky !! But Sardarjis are also ridiculed in Hindi films !! In a virtuous Karan Johar's movie, a sardar kid is shown counting stars !
In most cases, a child in a movie is adopted by a pious Christian .... some aunty Fernandes, Bare-chacha !!
Where was the pious Hindu on screen ....he was shown as a crook in 'saffron' a Sadhu or a temple priest who connives
with brigands !!
And, the song, "Ganpati Bappa Moriya Pareshaan Karen Mujhe Chhoriya".
Today, the charge is 'saffronisation' or that the film Dhurandhar is part of Hindutva project but the story was totally 'otherwise' for decades.
Not only these, even Pakistani stars flourished in India quite easily !
Zeba Bakhtiyar's first Bollywood movie was 'Henna' and it is said the filmmakers spent months to 'discover' a suitable talent like her.
Meesha Shafi is Pakistani singer who has worked in “Bhaag Mika Bhaag” in 2013.
Cricketer Mohsin Khan also tried his fortunes on silver screen in India. He had married
Reena Roy, who later returned 'home'.
Saba Qamar played a key character in critically acclaimed 'Hindi Medium'.
A few Muslim Bollywood stars fell from the grace in recent times due to their
unpalatable remarks on India. Naseeruddin Shah has let down his admirers.
He has not only done some memorable works in India; he also acted in Pakistani films that include Pakistani super hit 'Khuda Ke Liye' in 2007. The film also starred Pakistani stars like Fawad Khan, Shaan and Iman Ali.
Among other Indians who worked in Pakistani industry has been Sara Khan.
She featured in ‘Ye Kaisi Mohabbat Hai’ with Pakistani actor Noor Hassan. Om Puri too has acted in Pakistani films.
Before Shilpa Shukla became popular as flamboyant hockey player 'Bindiya' in Shah Rukh Khan’s 'Chak De India', she had made her debut with Pakistani film 'Khamosh Pani'.
Last few years also saw debate about nepotism especially after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. It was an episode Bollywood would like to forget.
In curious developments, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Yash Raj Films chairman Aditya Chopra were quizzed by Mumbai cops.
Bhansali, in his statement given to Mumbai Police, had said that he had approached Sushant for four films including Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela (2013), Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Padmaavat (2018).
However, Bhansali recalled being told by YRF that Rajput's dates were unavailable. The three films turned out to be blockbusters at the box office and won several popular awards. Chopra meanwhile had said that they never stopped the late actor from working with filmmakers outside the production house.
Karan Johar's manager too was summoned.
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| Sushant Singh Rajput |
Among a few 'controversial' films; 'Article 15' pushed upper-caste viewers to confront caste violence that usually feels distant or abstract and 'Gangs of Wasseypur' became a cult favourite not just for its grit, but for its raw portrayal of rage and generational decay.
'Dhurandhar' is perhaps the first Hindi film that looks at India's terror problem from the other side of the border - that is Pakistan.
The fictional universe in Dhurandhar unfolds a fascinating picture of Lyari, Karachi and how arms business has flourished.
ends
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