The opinion piece titled “Modi’s political party has weaponized Bollywood” by Rana Ayyub, a contributing writer for Global Opinions in The Washington Post, sheds light on the concerning trend of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) co-opting popular culture, particularly cinema, for its political agenda in India.
Ayyub highlights a recent film called “The Kerala Story” as an example of this trend. The film portrays the story of a Hindu woman who converts to Islam and is subsequently radicalized and recruited by the Islamic State. The trailer of the film sensationalizes the narrative, depicting a Muslim woman brainwashing her friends to shun Hinduism and urging men to seduce Hindu women, impregnate them, and send them to fight a holy war. The film’s creators initially claimed that the protagonist is a fictionalized composite representing 32,000 women who have suffered the same fate.
The author points out that the film was heavily promoted by the BJP during political campaigns in the state of Karnataka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself endorsed the film, claiming it portrayed the true face of terrorism and accusing the opposition of trying to block its release. However, India’s fact-checking website Alt News refuted the claim of widespread brainwashing and recruitment, emphasizing that only four Indian women had been verified to have joined the Islamic State in Afghanistan.
Ayyub raises concerns about the film’s impact, despite its sensational and factually questionable content. “The Kerala Story” became a box office success, grossing $37 million worldwide and becoming the second-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2023. The author warns that this trend of using cinema for political ends is not new, referencing a previous film called “The Kashmir Files” that propagated a vicious narrative against Muslims.
The article highlights the need to address the BJP’s co-optation of popular culture for political purposes. It raises questions about the impact of such films on social cohesion and the potential for exacerbating sectarian tensions between Hindus and Muslims. The author argues that these tactics are concerning and warrant greater attention in the ongoing discussion about Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Washington.
Overall, the opinion piece provides a critical perspective on the BJP’s use of cinema as a tool to advance its political agenda, emphasizing the need to recognize and address this trend.
