Bajrangi Bhaijaan: Humanism has no religion or nation!

The contrasts and the ironies are stark! The lead character in the film is played by Salman Khan who is a   Muslim. But in the film he is a hardcore Hanumaan bhakt (devotee). The farcical irony is that he has to bow whenever he sees a monkey. However, when raised a question if Lord Hanuman would be efficacious even in Pakistan, he is confused and fumbles for an answer.

Director: Kabir Khan

Film Clip

Salman Khan has done a credit to himself and his immense talent by taking a break from his regular irrational masala potboilers and giving a veritable performance in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. The film is more than just another theme in Indo-Pak conflicts of identities. In and through a sincere and devout Hindu devotee of Lord Hanuman on a voyage to reach a mute Muslim girl to her parents in Pakistan, the director sends a strong message that humanism has no religion and nation.

In Bhajrangi Bhaijaan, in the final analysis everything falls in right place adding to the success of the film. The little Harshaali Malhotra as Munni (Shahida) is not just innocent looking, her expressions evoke tenderness and sympathy. The all-pervading humour and irony in most situations of struggles of people compromising hardcore religiosity with borrowed nationalism perhaps would help the audience to relate to their own struggles to find reconcile man-made structures with natural instincts to reach out to humanity. In the end, though, BB is a film about losing one’s structured identities and reaching out to people in dire need, letting love overpower hatred and egotism.

Well, certain elements in the film, especially dramatic developments typical of a Bollywood commercial, may look out of place in a well-crafted humanistic rendering. But, the film as a whole does work in conveying powerful messages. And patronising animosity is definitely not one of them! Nawazuddin Siddiqui, as always, adds weight to the film through his inimical performance. Full marks to Kabir Khan, the director. Not to forget, the music and situational songs elevate the theme. 

- Melwyn Pinto SJ

Also read: Article from EPW

OMG: Waging war against God!

There have been very few films in the history of Indian cinema that have critiqued religion. In fact, critiquing religion would be a sacrilege in the Indian religious context. In such a scenario, Oh My God (OMG) is a very bold attempt by director Umesh Shukla. The film not only critiques religion as practised today in India, but demonstrates that the Divine is beyond all religious practices and belief systems.

Director: Umesh Shukla

Film Clip

OMG is a story of a simple middle class man Kanji Lal who wages a war with God, as the insurance company tells him that he cannot be given compensation for the ruin of his shop in the earth quake, as it was the ‘act of God’. And Kanji Lal has to defend his case himself since no lawyer dares fight God. Of course, Kanji Lal has the strength to fight, ironically through the help and grace of the same God whom he does not believe.

The film has been successful for more than one reason. First of all, it treads the untrodden path and boldly tries to expose the hypocrisy and exploitative structures in every religion as practised today. Further, it also makes a bold statement that even if religion (all religions for that matter) may be good in itself, the so called ‘custodians’ of these religions have turned them into a trade. In the bargain, religion today has unfortunately metamorphosed into a mere business with the visible absence of the divine.

The victory of Kanji Lal in the court of law is a victory for the Divine as well, as shown in the film. This is because, God reveals to Kanji Lal, and through him to everyone, that even if humans do not need religion, they need the Divine.

The success of the film is also because of the brilliant role of Kanji Lal played by Paresh Rawal, who embodies true nastic and fighter instincts into his rendering.

 - Melwyn Pinto SJ