Indian Cinema and Communalism Essay Example

depicting Muslims being arrested and interrogated in prison. These combined scenes present viewers with an unfavorable portrayal of Islam and its followers.

Anwar, a movie by Manish Jha, presents a more stereotypical and surreal portrayal of Muslims. The film showcases the story of Anwar, a young Muslim man who experiences betrayal from his lover and best friend. Seeking shelter, he finds himself in an abandoned Hindu temple on a rainy night. The next day, he faces an enraged Hindu mob screaming, "Terrorists! Terrorists! They aim to destroy our country's heritage!" A political leader, using a loudspeaker, encourages the crowd and justifies his actions as his patriotic duty as an Indian and Hindu politician.

Without any knowledge about the temple's inhabitants, he immediately declares that they have entered the temple with the aim of destroying it and are plotting against us. This statement reinforces stereotypes, leading some to question if he is a terrorist or if it is Osama Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein hiding in the temple. In 2005, the movie 'Sins' featuring Shiney Ahuja faced widespread protests in Mumbai as it depicted a Catholic priest engaging in a romantic relationship with a woman half his age.

Dolphy D'Souza, the president of a prominent Catholic organization in Mumbai, criticizes the derogatory depiction of a morally corrupt priest that is offensive to India's Catholic community. Nevertheless, there are movies that avoid perpetuating stereotypes and instead strive to inform viewers. An example is Farhan Akhtar's Lakshya, featuring Hrithik Roshan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Preity Zinta. This film seeks to raise awareness by drawing inspiration from the 1999 Kargil Conflict when Pakistani troops invaded Indian

territory in Kashmir.

In this scene, it is revealed that the Indian army has successfully breached the Kashmir camps following the infiltration. Within the Indian army, there is an officer who is a Muslim. After killing all the Muslim Kashmiris, this officer receives a call from the Kashmiri leader. The leader becomes curious about the officer's religious identity and asks, "Are you a Muslim?". The officer firmly replies, "To you, I am Indian." This response indicates that the officer prioritizes his Indian identity over his religious affiliation. It is important to note that a true Muslim would not abandon their faith under any circumstance. This scene is featured in Aparna Sen's film 'Mr. & Mrs.'.

The film "Iyer" is set during the Gujarat Riots of 2002 and centers around Meenakshi, a Tamil Brahmin-Hindu girl, who is traveling on a bus with Raja Chowdhry. The bus comes under attack by Hindu fundamentalists. In order to protect Raja, whom she later discovers is a Muslim, Meenakshi lies to the attackers and claims that he is her husband. Throughout the movie, we witness Meenakshi's personal growth as she transitions from prejudice to open-mindedness. She learns that religion should not be used as a means of differentiation. It's worth noting that films are often created for financial gain; however, they also possess the ability to convey profound messages.

The purpose of creating all aspects of a film, such as actors, morals, plots, locations, and music, is to attract a particular audience and maximize profits. In India, where Hinduism is followed by the majority of the population, successful films must cater to this demographic in order

to retain their loyal viewers. Films not only reflect society but also mirror a nation's politics and can be used to influence people's viewpoints. This is particularly relevant in India because of its large population of Hindus who may have limited education.

Fundamentalist political groups often exploit controversies surrounding the portrayal of religious communities in movies to promote intolerance towards other religions and deepen divisions. As long as communalism exists, it will be reflected in cinema because movies aim to depict reality. However, filmmakers need to acknowledge the potential impact of their stories, even if they don't intend harm towards a specific religious group. Religion is a sensitive topic that requires careful handling, especially at a time when India cannot afford another communal conflict like the Gujarat riots.