Tag: boycott culture

Pathaan Song Besharam Rang

Hindutva Gang Hates SRK Because He Represents A Plural India

By LokMarg

Vyalok, a Lucknow-based film buff and critic, debunks the controversy over Shahrukh-starrer ‘Pathaan’ and raises other problematic issues related to it

The current controversy over the movie song, Besharam Rang, reminds me of an old interview of Shahrukh Khan. The ‘boycott culture’ was not very prevalent then but it was emerging. The interviewer asked King Khan if was afraid of his films drawing boycott calls over sentiment of a particular segment.

Shahrukh, in his typical disarming smile, responded: “I have a lot of admirers in India. Uncountable. You may call it my arrogance but my admirers would outnumber my haters at any point of time. Second, this boycott thing is a good excuse for anyone who makes a bad film and fails at the box office. I know if my film is not good, it will be a flop.”

This is the straightforwardness and confidence of Shahrukh that makes the Hindutva brigade jealous of him. Just look at his stature. Shahrukh is one of the most widely identified Indian actors worldwide. Shahrukh is the brand ambassador of Dubai. He represents India’s composite culture and tolerance. And that is what riles the Hindutva groups. Clearly, vulgarity and saffron robes were not the real reason behind the protest calls; you can dig out far more vulgarity with similar robes all over the Internet and in popular movies.

His measured response in the face of the Pathaan song controversy – when he talked of positivity –speaks volumes of his maturity as a celebrity. Previously too, he has kept himself calm and composed amid controversies related to his family and films. There are many film actors who have pandered to the political powers that be for commercial gains and support but not Shahrukh.

ALSO READ: ‘Boycott Culture Won’t Work, Nor Will Vulgarity’

Having said that, I would like to add that I did find the Besharam Rang song problematic for reasons other than vulgarity. This pertains to the image of Shahrukh. Allow me to quote from another interview of King Khan with TV anchor Rajdeep Sardesai. In that interview, Khan admitted that he was a slave of his image as projected on the silver screen. This is disconcerting. Do we need to ask Shahrukh why is he still carrying on as an actor with a co-actor half his age? SRK is capable of handling the Hindutva brigade and cancel culture, but he must fight his own demons too.

In the said song, In Besharam Rang song, he appears to be an apology for his past self. Vaibhavi Merchant’s choreography is trying too hard but fails to capitalize on the magic Shahrukh-Deepika couple. Must he resort to this nonsense to remain the ‘King of Romance’?

And it is not only about Shahrukh. All Bollywood actors above 55 years of age need to rethink their roles as they age. Hindi writer Nirmal Verma wrote that “aging is a graceful process”. Even Amitabh Bachchan did not understand this point until his company was doomed and he had to reincarnate himself with a white beard in KBC.

Look at Hollywood. Leave Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino, Robert De Nero, etc, and even actors like Bruce Willis, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are choosing roles to suit their age. But here, the Hindi Hero is not ready to come out of his Armani suit and six-pack obsession! And then we raise our eyebrows when just one Hindi film gets listed in the Top-10 list of 2022!

If not Hollywood, our Hindi heroes can look closer home at the South superstar Rajinikanth. When he is not on the screen, he can be seen in a kurta-pajama with a bald head. This is not just his simplicity, it is a statement that Rajini Thalaliva sells dreams on the screen. In real life that façade is off, gracefully.

As told to Abhishek Srivastava

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Filmmaker views on Besharam Song

Boycott Calls Won’t Work, Nor Will Vulgarity In Films

By LokMarg

Chandrapal Singh, a filmmaker, says the issue is not about a particular song but a particular clique of filmmakers which intentionally promotes vulgarity in Indian cinema

The recent controversy over ‘Besharam Rang’ song from the movie Pathaan has several aspects. One is vulgarity in Bollywood songs, the second is the boycott call over religious sentiments, and finally the whataboutery by digging out old Bhojpuri songs of several actor-turned-BJP lawmakers. Allow me to examine these aspects from an unbiased standpoint.

On vulgarity, the question is not only about a particular song but about a particular gang, a Bollywood clique, which has been habitual, over the past few decades, ridiculing our culture, music, dance, etc. This specific ‘gang’ of filmmakers is notorious for filming songs with a crude twist or racy outfits merely to gain publicity via ‘hot’ scenes, with sole aim of making money at the cost of falling movie standards.

Most of these movies are being made keeping in mind the younger generation which, the filmmakers presume, does not have any taste or understanding of the social issues, and watches movies only for ‘hotness  quotient’. And when a controversial song or scene, released before the movie, makes publicity, good or bad, these filmmakers make merry. This is a cheap tactic to book profits at the box office.

Second, the fate of a film does not only depend on a particular song or a boycott call. If the film has a good storyline and script, it will in all likelihood perform well at the box office. Conversely, even a multi-crore production with mindless or indigestible script does not guarantee a hit.

Chandrapal (inset) feels some controversies are deliberately generated

Boycott calls on social media or public forums hardly impact a film. If the audience finds a particular film entertaining or rallies behind a movie star, they will go to theaters irrespective of the hues and cries made over someone’s sentiment. Incidentally, I found Shahrukh Khan’s response to the controversy very laudable and measured.

ALSO READ: ‘Cancel Culture Is The Coronavirus of Bollywood’

As far as concerns being raised about similar acts (of dancing with Bhagwa-clad heroines) with stars like Ravi Kishan, Manoj Tiwari, and Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua), those are things of the past when social media was not so prominent. These leaders are now lawmakers and moved on. The songs, being dug out from the past, are equally ridiculous as the boycott calls from the other side.

Do not expect Shahrukh Khan or Amir Khan fans to ditch them over a boycott call. If the hero has a connection with the masses, he will draw them to theatres. Similarly, if a lawmaker has done well for his constituency, his following will not be affected by the kind of songs he acted in, during his past career.

As an audience or an electorate, people need to make it clear once and for all – that we are not just a herd that will blindly make our choices over a call or a controversy. Things will change when filmmakers catering to us are made to realize the quality of our choice.

As told to Rajat Rai

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SRK Pathaan

‘Positive Log Zinda Hain,’ Says SRK Amid Calls To Boycott ‘Pathaan’

By LokMarg

Days after Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra objected to the ‘Pathaan’ song Besharam Rang for its green and saffron costumes worn by Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, King Khan, on Thursday, sent out a message of positivity at the inauguration of Kolkata International Film Festival 2022. (KIFF)

Without mentioning anything related to the Besharam Rang controversy, SRK in his speech said, “Cinema and in fact, the advent of articulation through social media platforms have now become the foremost expressions of human experience and emotion. The collective narrative of times is shaped by social media and contrary to the belief that the spread of social media will affect cinema negatively.”

He added, “I believe cinema has a more important role to play now. Social media is often driven by a certain narrowness of view that limits human nature…I read somewhere negativity increases social media consumption and thereby increases its commercial value as well…Such pursuits enclose collective narrative making it divisive and destructive.”

“Cinema exposes the vulnerability of human nature by telling stories in the simplest form as they are lived. It allows us to know each other better in a way it’s best placed to sustain a collective counter-narrative that speaks to the larger nature of humankind,” SRK continued.

After concluding his speech, Shah Rukh tweaked his Pathaan dialogue in order to urge people to focus on positivity.

“Kuch dino se hum yaha aa nahi paaye ..aapse mil nahi paaye. lekin ab duniya jo hai normal ho gayi hai. Hum sab khush hai, main sabse zyada khush hu aur ye baat batane mein mujhe bilkul bhi aapatti nahi hai ki duniya kuch bhi kar le, main aur aap log aur jitne bhi positive log hai, sab ke sab zinda hai (We haven’t been able to meet for a while, but the world is becoming normal now. We are all happy and I am the happiest. And I have no qualms in saying, that no matter what the world does, me and you, and all positive people in the world are ALIVE),” SRK said.

‘Besharam Rang’ was dropped online on December 12, and soon it became the talk of the town. While several liked the peppy track, there were also who found ‘Besharam Rang’ objectionable over the use of saffron and green costumes. A slew of activists in Indore even staged a protest against Pathaan and Besharam Rang song and set effigies of Deepika and Shah Rukh on fire. (ANI)

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Ayushmann Flaunts His Love For Rajma Chawal

Ayushmann Opens Up On Boycott Culture Against Bollywood

By LokMarg

After delivering eye-catching and powerful performances across comedy, thriller, and family genres, actor Ayushmann Khurrana’s next release is a high-octane action flick titled ‘An Action Hero’.

The 38-year-old actor is busy with the promotions of his next along with its director Anirudh Iyer. Following promotions for their upcoming flick, the two sat down and shared some exclusive insights into their film with ANI, while also opening up on the alleged ‘boycott culture’ against Bollywood.
On the film’s relatability with the ‘boycott culture’, Ayushmann told ANI, “The plot of the film is based on this era and whatever we have seen in the last few years. Whatever has happened in the recent past or is happening now has also been portrayed well in the film. You will surely get a glimpse of it in the film. Be it a targeted online campaign against a star or how vulnerable a superstar could be, you will find it all in this film. The film, in a nutshell, portrays how society reacts to a star these days.”

On the so-called boycott culture, which has taken a toll on some big-budget releases, including Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha and Akshaye Kumar’s Samrat Prithviraj, Iyer told ANI, “What’s happening is very evident but I would like to give an elaborate answer to this question. There are always two ways of looking at this — repercussion and punishment. I feel that nobody deserves to be punished this way. It is wrong. There is a slight difference between these two viewpoints and I strongly believe that one should understand this difference.”

In the film, the ‘Bala’ actor will be seen portraying the role of an actor who is being chased by the character portrayed by Jaideep Ahlawat. The film is produced by Anand L Rai and Bhushan Kumar.

It is all set to hit the theatres on December 2, 2022. The film marks the ‘Dream Girl’ actor’s first action-packed role.

Ayushmann also has several projects in his kitty, including the upcoming comedy ‘Dream Girl 2’ alongside Ananya Panday, Paresh Rawal, Annu Kapoor, Manoj Joshi, and Vijay Raaz. The film is all set to hit the theatres on June 23, 2023 (ANI)

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