In a recent interview, Naseeruddin Shah discussed how Bollywood is changing and why the success of movies like The Kashmir Files is “disturbing.”
In addition to being a seasoned veteran of the Indian film business, Naseeruddin Shah is also considered as one of the best actors working today. In addition to appearing in more than 100 movies, the Dedh Ishqiya actor tried his hand at directing Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota in 2006, which starred the late Irrfan Khan and Konkana Sen Sharma. The actor recently discussed the evolving trends in Bollywood in an interview with Free Press Journal.
Naseeruddin Shah discusses the risky and dynamic trends in Bollywood
The actor from A Wednesday claimed that in today’s culture, a movie’s popularity is directly correlated to how jingoistic it is. Shah went on to say that the more jingoistic you are, the more popular you become since that is what has been governing this nation. It’s not enough to merely love your country; you also need to invent fictitious foes. These individuals are doing something that is really destructive, yet they are unaware of it. In spite of the fact that I haven’t seen movies like “Gadar 2” and “Kerala Story,” I am familiar with their plots.
The popularity of “jingoistic” movies like The Kashmir Files, The Kerala Story, and Gadar 2 is deemed “harmful” by actor Naseeruddin Shah. Additionally, he believes that moviemakers are forced to produce works that unnecessarily undermine “other communities.” The veteran actor expressed concern over the success of these films over those directed by Hansal Mehta, Anubhav Sinha, and Sudhir Mishra in a recent interview.
In an interview with Free Press Journal, Naseeruddin was questioned if the goal of Bollywood filmmaking has changed. “Now, you become more popular the more jingoist you are, because this is what has been ruling this country,” he retorted. It’s not enough to merely love your country; you also need to invent fictitious foes.
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The success of The Kashmir Files bothers Naseeruddin Shah
Shah, who made his directing debut with Man Woman Man Woman after a 17-year absence, added that it is “disturbing” how well-liked movies like The Kashmir Files are. He said, “It’s troubling that movies like Kashmir Files are so hugely successful, but movies by Sudhir Mishra, Anubhav Sinha, and Hansal Mehta, who are attempting to capture the reality of their eras, don’t get viewed. However, it’s crucial that these filmmakers keep working and keep sharing tales. They are accountable to future generations.
The seasoned actor continued, “People will watch ‘Bheed’ and ‘Gadar 2’ and compare them to see which one best captures the essence of our times since film is the only medium that could achieve it. It’s challenging to use abstraction to accurately depict life as it is. Regressive is a rather moderate word to describe what’s happening. “It’s frightening that filmmakers are being coopted into producing films that praise all the wrong things and disparage other communities for no apparent reason,” Naseeruddin Shah continued. It’s a risky pattern.
Naseeruddin Shah emphasized that the creators of these nationalistic films are unaware that “what they are doing is very harmful.” In reality, I haven’t seen movies like Kerala Story and Gadar 2 but I know what they’re about, he continued. It’s disconcerting that movies like Kashmir Files are so widely watched, yet movies like Sudhir Mishra, Anubhav Sinha, and Hansal Mehta that are attempting to capture the reality of their eras are not and are thus not seen.
The Kashmir Files
Vivek Agnihotri is the author and director of the 2022 Indian drama film The Kashmir Files in Hindi.The migration of Kashmiri Hindus from Indian-run Kashmir in 1990 is the subject of the movie’s fictional narrative. It presents the evacuation and the circumstances leading up to it as a genocide, a narrative that academics believe to be incorrect. According to the movie, there was a silent conspiracy to bury these facts.
The Kashmir Files was a huge box office success, earning a total of Rs 326.95 crore globally.
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