The entire process of turning actors into marketing agents for selling certain political ideologies must stop after Kangana Ranaut
The Government’s recent decision to set up the country’s “most beautiful” and “biggest” film city in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, has to be read in its wider socio-political context. An attempt to decentralise Bollywood, negate Mumbai as the entertainment capital of this country and control the dissemination of art and creativity is under way. The timing couldn’t be any better. The debate over nepotism, drug use and the proliferation of the so-called “mafia” of film-makers in Mumbai, amid the controversy surrounding Sushant Singh Rajput’s (SSR’s) untimely death, has changed the way we, as an audience, look at Bollywood today. The Hindi film industry is allegedly ruled by a bunch of oligarchs and dynasts who are extremely arrogant, egotistical and self-absorbed in their attitude towards “outsiders.”
Globally, the entertainment industry runs on a nonpareil image that it builds for itself. The insider-outsider debate in Bollywood has tainted the larger than life image of actors and film-makers and has brought the good, bad, and ugly side of the industry out in the open. How much of it is true remains to be seen. However, interestingly, Kangana Ranaut has emerged as the unflinching face of the rebellion against power, albeit in a highly uncouth manner.
Resultantly, it has so happened that much of this controversy has led to a debate between the far-Right and the Left-of-Centre political ideologies. In their attempts at winning the hearts of the urban middle-class, political parties have paved the way for a radical overhauling of cinema, art, and artists. This will be done by creating parallel power structures within the entertainment industry that will be backed by the State. We see that happening almost ostentatiously in the SSR-Rhea-Kangana drama. We have also seen that as a gradual development since the NDA Government came to power.
The likes of Anupam Kher, Paresh Rawal and Madhur Bhandarkar, among many others, have been used to lend their voice to debates on nationalism and religion. However, the nexus between Bollywood and politicians isn’t a new phenomenon. Great politicians understand that politics alone will not get their messages to the masses. So, both the groups have, historically, looked after each other. Film personalities help politicians in their campaigns and similarly, politicians help failed actors become administrators in the name of “cultural diplomacy.” It is almost like a rule. However, what the Kangana saga has revealed is that there is an attempt to forge a parallel entertainment industry which will act as the mouthpiece of Right-wing political parties and the Government. This group will help in disseminating what is known as “fringe cultural nationalism.” The mechanism is simple, involving shifting of power structures and bringing the industry within the control of the State. For the services of such actors, the Government will either provide them with security sponsored from public money or citizenship in case you are Akshay Kumar.
What is ignored during this entire debate is that the democratisation of cinema originally meant the production and promotion of diverse ideas previously not permitted within the industry. It also meant that for an “outsider”, there would be “lower barriers to entry” without any particular pedigree. It meant experimentation with alternative modes of artistic expression and creativity. It meant due recognition for films and works of expression that display counter-culture. Diversified cinema and artistic creativity were the major goals behind the demands for democratising the industry.
The present developments pose a threat to all stakeholders, including the audience, who are the primary and the majority stakeholders in artistic expression. The emergence of newbie politicians, who are regarded as pariah actors, will serve the purposes of disseminating Right-wing nationalism and will do no good to creativity and art. Actors, on the other hand, will lose creative autonomy and will be burdened with social responsibility. Films that challenge majoritarianism or films that are against an idea imposed by the State will not be permitted to go on the floors. Existing norms on censorship will change and become worse than what they already are. Discretion will be exercised almost freely. Turning artists into marketing agents for selling a certain political ideology must stop after motormouth Kangana Ranaut. Jaya Bachchan’s “save the industry” from “gutterisation” remark in Rajya Sabha last week should act as a clarion call and must force prospective cine-goers and film-makers to do some introspection.
(Anurag is from the National Law University and Abhinav is a student of law, Amity University)
