Why Bollywood stars on the ground?

Indians have a great attachment to the film world. A few decades ago, villagers used to go to the city for family outings, where watching movies was their main attraction. Farmers would go to the market to sell fruits and vegetables, some of them would come back after watching the cinema. Some students from educational institutions used to watch movies instead of studies. Some students who came to Lucknow from the villages used to compete in cinematography by watching all the 4-shows throughout the day in different theaters located nearby. Although most of them failed in the examination due to lack of attention to studies. Such unlimited attraction towards cinema in the name of entertainment cannot be considered justified. In the last decades, the level of education in the country has increased a lot. Doordarshan and other means of entertainment have also become available with the electrification of villages. The availability of television has increased in cities as well, and other means of entertainment have expanded. Electrification, television, internet, computers and smart-mobile phones have ended the difference between the city and the village. Along with entertainment, these tools are also playing an important role in getting information in various fields. Also social media platforms have given an opportunity to express views. Awareness is increasing in the society. Hindi-cinema audience has been giving a lot of respect to film personalities considering them as ideals. Attracted by his idealistic acting, the youth have been seen practicing to be and behave like him. In order to take maximum advantage of this attraction in the society by Bollywood, cruelty, obscenity, indecent dialogues and indecent body exposure by actresses, etc. have been crammed into the movies. The same has happened in the world of advertising. In the name of comedy, informal training is being given to humiliate relatives and respected people by making fun of them. Protests by a section of the society fall on deaf ears saying it is the demand of the story, or it is the choice of the audience. Out of arrogance some stars even say that whoever wants to see should see, we do not force. Sometimes critics are insulted by calling them contractors of society and culture.

As the information about film personalities is increasing through the media, the attraction towards them in the society is decreasing. After the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June-2020, the statements made by film personalities, media-trials and revelations from police-investigation have made the society understand that there is a pole within the drum of Bollywood. A large section of film personalities suffer from all those evils which society often abhors. Favoritism, unethical conduct, corruption, drug abuse etc. evils have become the identity of many celebrities of the film world. A large section associated with Bollywood has been opposing nationalism and Hindu culture in personal life. Film stars often remain silent on topics like love jihad, cow slaughter, forced conversion of Hindus, brutal killing of Hindus, etc. But even when only rumors are spread on Muslims, they become secular and stand with them, and make statements without authentic information. Some even do bad propaganda by saying that there is insecurity for the Muslims in the country. Some also support in anti-national activities. His behavior and rhetoric at the time of anti-citizenship law amendment movement cannot be forgotten. Some make derogatory remarks on the Indian Army from time to time, while some challenge the country’s identity and critics by naming their children after brutal invaders. Over the past few decades, a new promotional model has evolved in the film world. Under which controversies are provoked on a wide scale in the society by putting controversial content in films, dramas and advertisements, so that the eagerness to watch the film or drama increases in the society, and the advertisement remains on the mind of the society for a long time. This promotional model has often been successful as well. Glorifying criminals, hurting Hindu faith, glorifying Muslim society, distorting history, etc. have been a part of this tool-kit. Till now dozens of films have been in the circle of controversies, some serial dramas and advertisements can also be counted in this category. The censor board also seems helpless in this matter. Actor Paresh Rawal made fun of offering milk to Shivling in the film Oh My God in September-2012. Not only this, while promoting the film, actor Akshay Kumar had openly opposed pouring milk on Shivling, pouring oil on the idol of devotee Hanuman and breaking coconut in the temple. The film PK, released in December-2014, openly mocks social beliefs and Hindu faith. The October-2015 advertisement by Tanishq (Jewellery brand) glorifying the secular behavior of Muslim families cannot be forgotten. The film Padmavat (renamed from Padmavati), released in January-2018, has been accused of showing Queen Padmavati in an unacceptable manner. It was banned by several states due to widespread protests, but the Supreme Court cleared the film in the name of freedom of expression. The decision of the Supreme Court is universal, but it does not guarantee that it will always be beneficial for the country and the society as a whole. AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi, Justice J. s. Verma’s statement has reminded many times that the Supreme Court is supreme but not infallible. Society was disappointed with this decision. With increasing awareness in the society, the tool-kit of controversial content-based campaign model is being understood. Now to curb the tyranny of Bollywood, the only option left with the society is to boycott Bollywood on social media.

• Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh