India’s film industry is basking in the glow of ten Oscar nominations for Slumdog Millionaire as the rags-to-riches story recieved rave reviews and appreciation the world over. However, one should recall that in the mid-1990s, the same sort of adoration took place as well — for Indian beauties in pagaents like the Miss World and Miss Universe. Perhaps it’s the turn of Bollywood now?
The film has been criticised in certain sections for depicting a stereotyped Mumbai. If that is so, no one has stopped an Indian director from directing a movie that portrays the US in a similar stereotypical manner? Make a film on how the real Americans, now called native-Indians have been confined to reservations. Or on what the real status of Afro-Americans is. One President does not make a summer. Convert the book Gang leader for a day written by Sridhar Venkatesh, into a film. I think it’s time to walk the talk. Incidentally, I am now reading a book called The lies that my teacher told me by James W Loewen. It gives an insight into how white Americans have subtly twisted and hidden historical facts in order to suit their political and social agendas. But let us also remember that our history has been conveniently modified to suit our agendas as well.
T R Ramaswami, Mumbai
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