In India, movies transcend entertainment and cathartic sensibilities. It often regresses into the distorted realms of individual and mass sensitivities, blurring the lines between mythology and history, fact and fiction, reel and real life. The consequences are demi-god movie stars, undulating fans and hypersensitive fan clubs, collective hysteria and suspension of critical faculties, epitomising the Indian metaphysical concept of “Maya” applied to the mundane world. ‘Bollywood’ represents the Indian movie industry to the outside world, eclipsing the relevance, content and aesthetics of thriving regional movies.
The self-identification with the protagonist in the movie, however ludicrous, false and irrational the character depiction might be, effectively awakens repressed sentiments pertinent to authority, system, ethnicity, race or culture. This emotional resonance, combined with the solace of vicarious vigilantism of the hero, has been the defining paradigm of a vast majority of Indian moviegoers. Realistic movies bereft of glitz, glamour, violence and opulence rarely succeed at the box office. Discernment has always been a casualty of the Indian audience, and this weakness is capitalised by the incumbent NDA administration, dominated by the BJP faction since its ascendancy in 2014.
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