Bollywood: Everyone's Soft Target?

Valid or invalid. Bollywood and controversies go hand in hand. Whenever a big movie is up for release, there is a controversy associated with it. The recently released Jolly LLB 2, received a lot of flak from a shoe company which claimed that the movie portrayed them in wrong light. Or the Padmavati incident, where there was no validation as to why such incidents occur. Another incident where the title of another Sanjay Bhansali movie, "Ramleela" was changed to "Goliyon ki Raasleela Ramleela"and there was a small group which protested against the title of the movie stating that it "hurt their religious sentiments". For such people, I would like to question, "How can ur religious sentiments be hurt with a title Ramleela?" Ramleela is a play enacted every year on Dussherra and why not protest there? Why only Bollywood? Agreed, that the movie was bold and revolved around the characters, Ram and Leela but comparing that portrayal to the sacred epic is just not valid! What followed was that the protesting group received a lot of attention thanks to the media and yes, it did benefit the movie as well. But was it all worth the controversy?

                                              

                                      



On one hand, we say that we have developed a modern outlook but then such incidents only show how narrow minded we still are.

 

If one keenly sees then, even for a very stupid, tepid reason there is protest towards Bollywood movies. Why is all this protest and controversy around Bollywood only? Ever wondered? My Name is Khan controversy is an example. All that SRK said was, "Pak players weren't bought in IPL 2010."Is it a reason for a controversy? No. it is not. But a political party found it. SRK received a lot of flak from the party and they even tried to stall the release. Was it even a reason to stall the movie's release?

                               

 

The simple reason is that Bollywood is a world of glamour, as seen from outside. This world of glamour attracts a lot of attention from the media. Media is a very powerful tool for one's publicity. The only source of publicity is the media.

Because Bollywood enjoys a lot of media attention so people/organisations think and act in such a way that they feel that putting up stupid, tepid allegations on a film/ song would help them make quick bucks and receive some wide-spread publicity. "What's to lose for a pauper?" is mentality the people/organizations have while gearing to protest against a movie. They think that "Except their time, nothing is at stake and a small publicity is sure to be received by such people." A classic example of publicity received is the Hindu Mahasabha. Though they might have done good things for the people but certainly nothing for Bollywood except problems.  From challenging Khans to turn to Hinduism to criticizing Taimur Ali Khan's name, Hindu Mahasabha has got it all against Bollywood! They all of sudden from being a lousy organization has become an active one as they found a soft target to hit- Bollywood.

                               
                                    

 People might say, "Bollywood also succumbs!"". When one has so much of money riding on for a movie, anyone can succumb. Because there is a lot of sweat, patience and most importantly time gone into making something. The producers generally have no option but to succumb to the demands for this very reason. Unless and until, there is someone like Anurag Kashyap, producers succumb owing to financial considerations.

                                   

 

Anurag Kashyap, did something that should go down into history for his udta Punjab controversy. The way he battled all odds was simply commendable and that too for the right reasons. The censor board does need to group up. From troubling ADHM, UP, Rustom, Wazir, Raees, GGM  Censor board does need to grow up.

 

                           

 

There is a simple hope that other producers learn something from Anurag  Kashyap and go forward with their original idea and bring it out as original as it can be. Yes, there is financial risks involved but as it is said, "Any publicity is good publicity." should be thought of before any course of action.