Profits sought by filmmakers amidst India-Pakistan conflict
Bollywood, India's film industry, has been witnessing a significant shift in its content, with a growing focus on films that evoke patriotic sentiment. This trend, especially evident after conflicts with Pakistan, has led to an increase in the production of films that highlight the heroism of Indian soldiers, national pride, and valor.
One of the most notable examples of this trend is the release of films like Border, Shershaah, Major, and The Ghazi Attack. These movies, often based on historical wars or Pakistan-related conflicts, have become popular and are widely available on major streaming platforms. They gain attention around national holidays like Independence Day.
New projects continue this theme. For instance, Border 2, scheduled for 2026, is in production and promises to uphold the legacy of patriotic filmmaking, focusing on the valor and unity of the Indian armed forces. The film features notable actors and aims to deliver a grand cinematic experience of patriotism.
However, this trend is not without criticism. Some films have been accused of being formulaic or exaggerated in their portrayals, as indicated by mixed reviews on movies like Sarzameen. These films follow typical terrorism and soldier tropes without resonating well with audiences.
Besides war/drama films, some movies explore broader aspects of patriotism and national identity. For example, Chak De! India, while a sports film, deals with issues of unity and social challenges within India.
The trend of producing patriotic films is not limited to war dramas. "Fighter," featuring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, was released on the eve of India's Republic Day in 2022 and drew heavily from India's 2019 airstrike on Pakistan's Balakot. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews and grossed $28 million in India, making it the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of that year.
Another notable film is Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's socio-political drama "Rang De Basanti" (2006), which won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film and was chosen as India's official entry for the Golden Globe Awards and the Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
However, some critics claim that Bollywood has been increasingly promoting the government's ideology since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014. This claim is supported by the endorsement of films like "The Kashmir Files" by the ruling right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party, despite accusations of stirring up hatred.
Director Vivek Agnihotri, who had box office success with his 2022 release, "The Kashmir Files," believes that a film needs to be made about the conflict. However, film critic and screenwriter Raja Sen criticized the apparent rush to make films related to the Pahalgam attack and the aggressive painting of Muslim kings and leaders in violent light.
Director Anil Sharma, who has worked on films like "Gadar: Ek Prem Katha" (2001) and its sequel "Gadar 2" (2023), expressed that he doesn't base his films on recent incidents but rather on subjects that evoke feelings. He criticized the herd mentality and seasonal nature of filmmakers making films related to the Pahalgam attack.
Overall, Bollywood continues to produce a steady stream of patriotic films that reflect public emotions around nationalism, often intensified by geopolitical tensions with Pakistan. These films are strategically released around independence-related celebrations and leverage the audience's patriotic feelings while sometimes facing critiques for repetitive themes or execution.
[1] Border (2018 film) [2] Sarzameen (film) [3] Chak De! India [4] The Kashmir Files [5] Border 2
- The 2018 film, "Border", is a prime example of the increasing trend in Bollywood to produce patriotic movies, specifically focusing on historical wars and Indian soldiers' heroism.
- Despite the widespread popularity of movies like "Border" and "The Ghazi Attack", some films, such as "Sarzameen", have suffered from mixed reviews due to their formulaic or exaggerated portrayals of patriotism.
- In contrast to war dramas, films like "Chak De! India" explore broader aspects of patriotism and national identity, addressing issues of unity and social challenges within India through a sports narrative.
