Bollywood’s love of patriotic films dates back several decades. While filmmakers have been making such films since the post-independence era, their tone and mood have changed dramatically since the early 2000s.
On the one hand, films such as Gadar (2001) and the legend of Bhagat Singh (2002) were screened, which boasted of very moving patriotism, while on the other hand, films including Swades, Lakshya (both 2004) and Rang De Basanti ( 2006). a new definition of ambitious India.
As every year, a number of patriotism films, including war dramas and spy thrillers, are made this year – Major, Tejas, Meri Desh Ki Dharti, Pippa, Sam Bahadur, Attack and Mission Majnu to name a few.
The producer and president of the Indian Producers Guild, Siddharth Roy Kapur, who sponsors the Pippa war film, believes audiences are interested in India’s rich history and, therefore, filmmakers have and will continue to touch the genre. “We are more curious about where we are in history and how our present has shaped us. The themes of patriotism and war coincide with the collective consciousness of the spectators. “We want to find out who our heroes are through cinema,” he said.
For actor Rakul Preet Singh, who plays a key role in the action thriller Attack, the joy of being part of a film of this kind is unparalleled, as her father was in the army. . “I feel very proud when I watch a patriotic movie. “It’s beautiful that movies have the power to evoke that feeling in people.”
Producer Amar Butala, who is the producer of Mission Majnu, a patriotic film inspired by true events, believes that patriotic films will continue to thrill audiences as it reminds them of chapters from their textbooks and that is why filmmakers should be responsible when directing such projects. “While we have to make movies fun when we rethink a story, our priority must always be to pay tribute to our men in battle,” he explains.
Actor Adivi Sesh, who plays the lead role in Major, agrees with Butala and claims that pretending to be a witness has a huge responsibility: “Someone tends to take home all the responsibility, emotions and weight that comes with playing a witness. However, it is also a matter of honor and pride to be able to portray the life of someone who is truly selfless. ”
Producer and film expert Girish Johar is confident that this genre will never die. “Indians are a lot of very emotional people. We are very emotional for our country and patriotism is very high during the Day of Democracy and the Day of Independence. “So watching such a movie gives us a sense of pride and gratitude.”
Producer and film expert Girish Johar says that this genre can never die and adds: “We Indians are emotional with our homeland. “So, watching such films gives us a sense of pride,” he says, adding that the success rate of such films is particularly high. “The genre has evolved and today, patriotic films are becoming more realistic in dealing with them. The audience enjoys watching untold stories and Madras Café (2013), Parmanu: The Story Of Pokhran (2018), Shershaah and Sardar Udham (both 2021) are proof ”.
