‘Besharam Rang’: It’s Time Bollywood Stopped Pretending to be Naive While Being Offensive
Bollywood can not faux to be naïve, not to mention totally harmless or unaware of the hidden or not so hidden messaging of its themes, pictures, or lyrics. Take the current controversy over the music, “Besharam Rang”, from the yet-to-be-released movie Pathaan. The film, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, scheduled for launch on 25 January 2023, the eve of Republic Day, already finds itself embroiled in a maelstrom of shock.
The title itself, in typical Bollywood type, stereotypes a complete group. You don’t should consult with Zanjeer (1973) or, extra lately, My Identify is Khan (2010), and even to see the film itself to guess that the stereotype is most definitely optimistic. Sure, Bollywood can not as but dare to do a movie on the horrors unleashed by the Taliban. Whereas we’re nonetheless guessing at what really occurs in Pathaan, the story line, from what one gathers, appears a rehash of Ek Tha Tiger (2012). One other spy thriller from the identical manufacturing home, Yash Raj Movies.
That is hardly stunning as a result of nothing g is actually new in Bollywood. Most movies are based mostly on some well-worn and time-tested “method.” Each Ek Tha Tiger and Pathaan have Indian intelligence officers, performed by Salman and Shah Rukh Khan, who should be proven as totally loyal to India. Within the former, nevertheless, the woman love, performed by Katrina Kaif, is a Pakistani spy. The movie ends with the couple disappearing in an apparently Center Jap international nation the place they will dwell and love in peace.
However a method, to succeed, should have some variations too. Else, introduce novelty? Tiger’s hero was Avinash “Tiger” Singh Rathore, a quintessential Rajput and thus one other Bollywood martial stereotype. The hero of Pathaan is — sure, you don’t should be a genius to guess — a Pathan. His father had rescued a Hindu household throughout Partition. Now the son serves the Indian state. His important different, performed by Padukone, isn’t a Pakistani spy this time round, however an Indian police officer.
“Besharam Rang”, a music from the film, was lately launched, presumably to check the waters and create some publicity. Ideally optimistic however a minimum of unfavorable publicity, a buzz across the would-be blockbuster earlier than its launch. True to expectations, the music has already attracted a ton of controversy, to not point out unfavorable publicity. Even BJP Minister of State for House, Ajay Kumar Mishra, and UP Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, have weighed in towards it.
However isn’t it true that on the subject of the film market, there’s, in any case, no such factor as dangerous or an excessive amount of publicity. At the least this was the usual assumption, or ought to I say method? Nicely, suppose once more. Occasions have certainly modified. It’s now extensively accepted {that a} sure sort of dangerous publicity can destroy a movie, properly upfront of its launch. Aamir Khan’s mega flop, Lal Singh Chaddha (2022) is cited as a chief current instance. It’s, arguably, a minoritarian remake of Forrest Gump (1994), subtly even when not overtly anti-Hindu.
It additionally has unusual improbabilities and presumably unfavorable stereotypes resembling a Sikh graduate of Delhi’s prestigious Hindu School being unable to talk every other language than Bollywood pidgin Punjabi. Or his finest Military buddy, a stereotypically “South Indian” man named Bala (or boy), being not solely intellectually challenged however multi-generationally obsessive about making males’s hosiery. The string of Bollywood flops, with income share of extra “genuine” mega hits from beneath the Vindhyas outstripping Bombay cinema, ought to actually have been a wake-up name. Maybe, one thing isn’t fairly proper with Bollywood’s “Ganga-Jamuni” method?
Now let’s come to the music itself, beginning with its lyrics. The important thing traces are: “Hamein To Loot Liya Milke/Ishq Waalon Ne…Nasha Chadha Jo Sharifi Ka/Utaar Feka Hai/Besharam Rang Kahan Dekha/Duniyan Waalon Ne.” A tough and prepared translation ought to suffice: “We’ve been looted by love makers…now we have stripped and discarded the intoxicant of advantage. The world is but to see our shameless hue.” As if to forestall any additional doubts, the actor croons her “unsuitable” intent: “Hai Jo Sahi Woh Karna Nahin/Ghalat Hone Ki Yehi To Shuruwat Hai.” What is true, that’s not performed; that is verily the beginning of being depraved.” Phrases most dad and mom would discover objectionable, particularly on the subject of the sexual mores of their wards.
Now to the imagery. A few of these traces are pictured on Padukone in a close-to-saffron skimpy gown, which leaves little or no to the creativeness.
True that the movie has handed the Indian Censor Board. So why shouldn’t the matter relaxation there? In any case, extra supposedly obscene songs have been picturised previously, together with Raj Kapoor revealing respectively, though not essentially respectfully, each Zeenat Aman’s and Mandikini’s thighs and bosoms way back to Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) and Ram Teri Gang Maili (1985). And Kapoor was the doyen of the Hindi movie business, feted by the government-given Dada Saheb Phalke Award.
However occasions, as I stated earlier, have modified. The hidden — and never so hidden — messaging of Bollywood has are available for such scrutiny that audiences will learn much more into such delicate scenes, to not point out colors, than ever earlier than. Not solely audiences however influencers will even weigh in on these points, calling for the boycott, as now we have seen, of movies and even movie stars and manufacturing homes.
What’s the manner out? In terms of Pathaan, one injury management mechanism could possibly be to vary the color of Padukone’s gown — or ought to we are saying undress — in that specific clip. But when it had been to be modified, say, from saffron to inexperienced, I’m certain all hell would break free. We have already got some sections of the Muslim ulema in India complaining that Pathaan insults not simply Pathans however Muslims, exhibiting them in a vulgar and unflattering gentle.
Subsequently, simply altering the color of 1 skimpy costume and even offensive lyrics is not going to most likely suffice. The entire “method” has come underneath query. The faintest whiff of anti-Hindu sentiments or implications is not going to go down properly with a way more religiously charged, to not point out woke up, majority in India. If Pathaan flops, I’m certain Bollywood will take head. Higher late than by no means?
The author is an creator, columnist and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru College. Views are private.
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