With elections starting next week, several recent and upcoming releases seen to be simply portraying the viewpoint of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party
“The Sabarmati Report,” a new Bollywood film, has sparked debate with its dramatic depiction of historical and politically sensitive events in India. The trailer begins poignantly at a railway platform labeled “Ayodhya,” referencing the city at the heart of long-standing Hindu-Muslim tensions. The film visually narrates the tragedy of the Sabarmati Express incident in 2002, where 59 Hindus died in a fire in Godhra, Gujarat, amid religious conflicts.
The sequence transitions from serene scenes of Hindu pilgrims singing devotional songs to chaos as a mob attacks the train, culminating in a fire. This portrayal aligns with the official investigation findings by a special court in 2011, which concluded the fire was arson, a point of historical and political contention.
Amid this backdrop, film critic Raja Sen critiques the film as part of a broader trend of cinema that potentially serves as right-wing propaganda, coinciding with the electoral ambitions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party. Such films, according to Sen, may influence public perception by presenting a one-sided narrative that emphasizes nationalist themes.
This critique extends to other recent films like “Article 370,” about the revocation of Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status, and “Razakars: Silent Genocide of Hyderabad,” which portrays historical conflicts from a perspective that critics argue has a clear anti-Muslim bias. Despite their controversial content, these films have not performed well at the box office.
The broader context includes increased political influence on Bollywood, with rising censorship and targeted boycotts, particularly against Muslim actors. This trend reflects a disturbing shift towards the ‘otherisation’ of Muslims in media, which has intensified under the current government.
Source Taniya Dutta TheNationalNews