• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • REVIEWS
    • TRAILERS
  • BUSINESS
  • CELEBRITIES
  • HOLLYWOOD
  • REGIONAL
  • TV
  • MUSIC
  • TOP LISTS

Bollywood Presents

Exotic locations where popular Bollywood movies were shot

You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Bollywood: Offers a Simplified Yet Clear Image of ‘New’ India

Bollywood: Offers a Simplified Yet Clear Image of ‘New’ India

August 27, 2015 by BollywoodPresents Team

India may have changed a lot over the last two decades, making it a hard place to read, but somehow Bollywood movies seem to be clearly depicting, albeit in a simplified manner, the evolution of the country.

More than 20 years ago, I travelled across India for a book on the fresh energies unleashed in small towns by economic liberalisation and Hindu nationalism. India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had promoted a national ethic of austerity and self-restraint. But by the 1990s, his project of collective welfare was in ruins and was rapidly being replaced by a culture of private wealth and consumption.

I had no more thought-provoking guide on my journey than the two highest-grossing Hindi films of the season. In Darr (Fear) and Baazigar (Gambler), Shah Rukh Khan, today India’s biggest film star, famously played a deranged stalker and a murderous avenger, breaking all previous moulds of leading men.

To be sure, the earnestly idealistic India projected by male heroes of the 1950s had been long dead, killed by Nehru’s own ruthlessly immoral daughter, Indira Gandhi. My generation had grown up in the 1970s and 1980s watching Amitabh Bachchan, the “angry young man”, carry the burden of our rage against pseudo-socialist and hideously venal politicians and bureaucrats: In one memorable cinematic climax, he machine-guns an entire cabinet of ministers.

But Bachchan seemed high-minded in comparison with the misogynist anti-heroes Khan played in 1993. As small-town audiences cheered his persecution of innocents (a phenomenon much remarked upon at the time), Khan seemed to be assaulting the Nehruvian elite’s claims to virtue just as, the year before, Hindu nationalists had torn down the medieval Babri mosque – a symbol of that elite’s fatally compromised secularism.

Advertisement
Today, as India’s Hindu nationalist government grudgingly observes Nehru’s 125th birth anniversary, commentators seem shocked by the intense scorn among many Hindus for a once-worshippedworshiped leader and his legacy. But then, deep and radical alterations in Indian self-images since the early 1990s have made India a difficult place to read.

Bollywood offers one of the clearest windows on to this evolution. As Rachel Dwyer shows in her superb book Bollywood’s India, popular cinema has tracked more closely than any artistic or journalistic medium the public and private lives of the new India, perhaps because it almost completely ignores such everyday Indian realities as violence against Dalits, once known as “untouchables”. Dwyer describes a broad range of self-perceptions – from class, gender and caste to geopolitics – both recorded and created by Bollywood’s factory of illusions since the early 1990s.

A crucial shift had already occurred in the late 1980s with the nationwide telecast of the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics. While reconnecting many Indians at home and abroad with their cultural heritage, these much-revered serials also created the basis for a global Hindu identity built around supposedly “Indian values” of “family, food, religion and nationalism”. Dwyer closely analyses the ensuing cultural shifts, such as the widespread adoption in the 1990s of the Karva Chauth fast, which dutiful Hindu wives had previously kept for their husbands in only some parts of India.

“The more incorrectly they present the surface of things,” the great German-Jewish critic Siegfried Kracauer wrote about unreal film fantasies, “the more correct they become.” The 2001 super-hit Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness) shows a religious Indian family living in Blenheim Palace, one of England’s grandest buildings. Travelling in private jets and helicopters while disdaining morally lax white people, these ostentatiously devout Hindus embody a fantasy of global material and moral supremacy that has increasingly seemed realisable to many Indians. The tagline of Pardes (Foreign Land) sums it up: “American Dream: Indian Soul.”

Indeed, Bollywood in many ways prefigured the insistent cultural nationalism of India’s new rulers and intelligentsia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent claim that plastic surgery and reproductive genetics was practised in ancient India might not seem outlandish to those who adored the hit film Bhul Bulaiyaa (The Maze), in which the Indians of the first century BC are revealed as early masters of modern science.

The many successful films in which Indian values heal the pain and confusion of wealthy but uprooted Hindus obviously set the stage for Modi’s Bollywood-style reception in recent weeks by Indian immigrants in the United States and Australia. Those still puzzling over Modi’s claim last week that India is poised to be a “world guru” should go out and watch the blockbuster, Kal Ho Naa Ho (Whether Tomorrow Comes or Not). It stars a mellowed Khan, now introducing Indian values to unhappy white American families.

Pankaj Mishra, a Bloomberg View columnist, is the author of From the Ruins of Empire: The Intellectuals Who Remade Asia.
Source: theage.com.au

Filed Under: Uncategorized

RELATED POSTS

Shahrukh Abram

Here’s why SRK (and not Bachchan) is the real GREAT GAMBLER

While Amitabh Bachchan may have done the Bollywood movie, ‘The Great Gambler’, it was Shahrukh Khan who made all his career moves in Bollywood like a real ‘Great Gambler’. The cover line, ‘Great Gambler’ (for Filmfare), was a salute to a 28-year-old actor who had made the cash counters ring with an audacious killer act […]

Game of thrones vs Borivali local train (viral video)

Mumbai local trains are considered to be Mumbai’s lifeline. Millions of commuters board these trains everyday. And during peak hours, these trains can be really crowded. And it becomes a really struggle to get inside these crowded trains during peak hours. Don’t believe us, check out this video, where its being compared to going on […]

Iulia vantur

Lulia Vantur (Salman Khan’s rumoured girlfriend) displays her singing talent at the Stardust Awards

Lulia Vantur, the Romanian woman who was linked with Salman Khan (there were rumours that the two even planned to get married soon) is a woman of talents too. Singer-composer-actor Himesh Reshammiya is fully backing the new singer in town. Himesh Reshammiya, who has been promoting Iulia Vantur for sometime now, thinks Iulia Vantur has […]

Baahubali 2 (The Conclusion)

Despite mixed reviews, Baahubali 2 does mind-blowing collection at the box-office

SS Rajamouli directed Bahubali 2 ((Baahubali: The Conclusion) collects over Rs 500 crore worldwide in the first three-day weekend itself. The movie collected over Rs 506 crore at the worldwide box office in the first weekend itself (becoming the first Indian movie to earn over Rs 500 crore in first three days). The movie collected […]

Bollywood Goes Underwater: Popular Scenes, Activities & Attractions

Popular Underwater Activities for tourists nowadays include – Submarine, Sea Walk, Sub-Scooter & Snorkeling Trips. Some of these may require you to know swimming (and even scuba diving). However, its the Bollywood films which are depicting a lot of underwater sequences, some of them look just spectacular on-screen. Famous Bollywood Underwater Sequences Here are some […]

‘Tubelight’ star Salman Khan’s embarrassing jeans-chewing act ‘caught-on-camera’

Salman Khan caught chewing his jeans fabric in public; Twitterati mocks the ‘Tubelight’ star. We all have weird habits, some unique actions that we do, especially when under stress or when bored. Guess what, even our Bollywood stars do such weird things. One such act was recently caught on camera. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was […]

Indian PM Visits ‘Masdar’ in Abu Dhabi, World’s First Zero Carbon Planned City

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has among the largest carbon footprints in the world, but the governemnt s keen to change that equation. The city’s environmental efforts includes building a nearby city using cutting-edge technology that will be entirely carbon neutral and will produce no waste. Where is ‘Masdar’? Masdar […]

Bala movie

Ayushmann Khurrana’s Bala gets of to a flying start at the box-office

Ayushmann, who has given several successful hits in recent times, has yet again delivered with Bala. Directed by Amar Kaushik, Bala, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar and Yami Gautam has got of to a flying start at the box office. The comedy-drama focuses on the problem of premature balding and how it affects the love […]

mannat

Take a peek into Shahrukh Khan’s 2000Cr. bungalow ‘Mannat‎’

Take a look inside Shahrukh Khan’s bungalow ‘Mannat‎’, worth 2000 cr. (330 million USD) in today’s market. Shahrukh Khan loves to live a grand life, he wants the best and he definitely deserves the best. True to his personality, he’s made sure he also lives in an abode that matches his star status. The guy […]

jokes

Men are from Mars & Women are from Venus (Jokes)

I love this Story, this is the funniest thing I’m reading this week! 😂😂😂😂😂😂 A woman went shopping. At the cash counter, she opened her purse to pay. The cashier noticed a TV remote in her purse. He could not control his curiosity and asked, “Do you always carry your TV remote with you?😕” She […]

Primary Sidebar

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

RECENT POSTS

Bobby Deol

Bobby Deol completes 25 yrs in Bollywood

Son of Bollywood veteran Dharmendra and brother to Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol recently completed 25 … [Read More...] about Bobby Deol completes 25 yrs in Bollywood

Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi: One of the finest actors of Indian cinema

Shabana Azmi, an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) of Pune, made her film … [Read More...] about Shabana Azmi: One of the finest actors of Indian cinema

war movie

Here’s how much Hrithik Roshan was paid for his 2019 hit film ‘War’

Hrithik Roshan is a superstar in Bollywood and is among the highest paid actors in the film … [Read More...] about Here’s how much Hrithik Roshan was paid for his 2019 hit film ‘War’

sooryavanshi movie

Bollywood facing losses of 5000+ crore due to pandemic lockdown

Almost everybody associated with the film industry is despondent about the future. With COVID-19 … [Read More...] about Bollywood facing losses of 5000+ crore due to pandemic lockdown

Money Scandals

Indian film celebrities caught in Tax Controversies

In Bollywood and other film industries in India, there's a saying that "there's no business like the … [Read More...] about Indian film celebrities caught in Tax Controversies

celebrity endorsements

It’s 2020 and Bollywood is still obsessed with fair skin

Makers of the upcoming movie 'Khaali Peeli', starring Ananya Panday and Ishaan Khatter, are facing … [Read More...] about It’s 2020 and Bollywood is still obsessed with fair skin

Kangana Ranaut's pali hill office

BMC demolish illegal constructions by Bollywood actors & filmmakers

BMC begins the demolition of illegal alterations to Kangana Ranaut's office in Bandra. The … [Read More...] about BMC demolish illegal constructions by Bollywood actors & filmmakers

deepika padukone

Deepika Padukone: Net worth and luxury splurges

Deepika Padukone is one of the leading actors in Bollywood and commands a higher remuneration than … [Read More...] about Deepika Padukone: Net worth and luxury splurges

Hrithik Roshan

Rakesh Roshan completes 50 years in Bollywood, talks about Bollywood

Veteran actor and filmmaker Rakesh Roshan has completed five decades in the film industry. However, … [Read More...] about Rakesh Roshan completes 50 years in Bollywood, talks about Bollywood

Sushant Singh Rajput

Showik Chakraborty, Samuel Miranda admit to Drugs Procurement, arrested by NCB

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested Showik Chakraborty and Samuel Miranda in connection with … [Read More...] about Showik Chakraborty, Samuel Miranda admit to Drugs Procurement, arrested by NCB

Amazon Fashion

Footer

Upcoming Bollywood Movies

  • Love Aaj Kal Movie
  • Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele Movie
  • Hawayein Movie
  • Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan Movie
  • The Hundred Bucks Movie
  • BHOOT: Part One – The Haunted Ship Movie
  • Haunted Hills Movie
  • 'O' Pushpa I Hate Tears Movie
  • Guns Of Banaras Movie
  • Thappad Movie

Bollywood Movie Reviews

  • Malang Review
  • Jawaani Jaaneman Review
  • Panga Review
  • Street Dancer 3D Review
  • Tanhaji – The Unsung Warrior Review
  • Chhapaak Review
  • Good Newwz Review

Top Celebs

  • Ajay Devgn
  • Kajol
  • Saif Ali Khan
  • Shraddha Kapoor
  • Varun Dhawan
  • Deepika Padukone
  • Kangana Ranaut
  • Tabu
  • Aditya Roy Kapur
  • Disha Patani
  • Rajinikanth

About Us

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Sitemap
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in