5/8/2025–|Last update: 17:31 (Mecca time)
Bollywood directors are racing to achieve cinematic gains from the national feelings that the recent armed confrontation between India and Pakistan, by recording the rights of films linked to the “Cindor” process.
Military confrontations between India and Pakistan continued in May 4 days, and witnessed an exchange of attacks with drones, missiles and artillery shelling, killing more than 70 people from both sides.
These confrontations, the most violent between the two countries, erupted, after an attack on April 22 in the part -time -based part of Kashmir, and killed 26 people, all of whom are civilians. India accused Pakistan of being behind the attack, but Islamabad denied its responsibility categorically.
The Indian military operation was called “Sendor”, relative to the red powder in which the Hindu brides are decorated with their hair.
Cinematic studios were quick to record their rights using a number of titles, including “The Mission Sindor”, “Sindor: Revenge”, “terrorism in Bahmam”, and “Sindor Operation”, in an effort to benefit from the wave of national enthusiasm.
“It is a story that must be narrated,” said director Vevek Aghanhtri.
“The herd mentality”
In 2022, Aghanhotri directed the movie “The Kashmir Files” on “Kashmir’s collective displacement” from Kashmir in the 1990s, and achieved great revenues in India.
While the ruling national “Bharatia Gata” party praised the film, many critics saw that it aims to stir up hatred against Muslims, and they are a minority in the country with the largest number of population in the world.
There are many voices against Bollywood, accusing it of being a propaganda tool for the government of Hindu National Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been in power since 2014.
Film critic and screenwriter Raja Sin expressed his regret that many directors are accomplishing films about stories, which appear to be supported by the government.
“We tried to fight a war, then we calmed down when (US President Donald) asked us to do so, so where is the tournament in that, then?”
Director Anil Sharma, known for his provocative films, also criticized Bollywood’s rush to produce films about the Bahmam attack, and said, “It is the mind of the herd … these are seasonal films.”
The Charma action type “Gadar: Ek Prem Katha” in 2001, and “Gadar 2” in 2023 was a great success.
Playing on the national tendon through cinema is not new in Bollywood. From this standpoint, the choice of a national occasion, such as independence, to launch a movie, with varying degrees of success.
“Impact on public opinion”
For example, “Fighter”, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Badukoni, on the eve of the Republic Day in India on January 25, 2024.
The film, which is largely inspired by the bombing of India in the city of Bakot in northern Pakistan in 2019, achieved the fourth highest in the year between Indian -speaking films, as its revenues amounted to 28 million dollars in India.
As for “Chhhava”, which was shown last February, a historical action film that deals with the life of Sambagi Mehraj, the governor of the Marathi Empire (late 17th), it is until the first day in terms of revenue this year.
However, the film sparked controversy, as some saw that it involves anti -Muslims.
Film critic Raja Sen noted that Indian cinema is currently given a picture of “Muslim kings and leaders in a climate of violence.” And I regret the frequency of the directors in dealing with topics “contradicts the system”.
He added, “If the public is drowned with dozens of films that seek to serve certain interests, without hearing the voice of the other party, then this propaganda and misleading information prints public opinion and affects it.”
The famous director Rakish Umbrakas Mehra stressed that patriotism means strengthening peace and harmony through cinema.
His dramatic comedy “Rang De Basanti” in 2006 won the Best Folk Film Award, and was nominated for the Golden Globe and Oscar awards for the best foreign language.
“How can we achieve peace and build a better society? How can we learn the love of our neighbors? This is patriotism in my opinion.”
