Manoj Kumar: Intersection of Politics and Hindi Cinema
Film star Manoj Kumar and Vicky Kaushal (Image credit X.com)
Manoj Kumar Pivoted Hindi Cinema as Nation Builder
By S Jha
New Delhi, April 5: The passing away of legendary film actor Manoj Kumar brings curtains on an era of Hindi films which prioritized nation building. Manoj Kumar’s ‘Upkar’ was a response to lift India from the despondency of the Chinese invasion of the country.
Late Lal Bahadur Shastri, then Prime Minister of India, had given a clarion call to instil pride in soldiers and farmers with his slogan of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’. Manoj Kumar took the slogan to hearts of the people with his film ‘Upkaar’.
Manoj Kumar, Dev Anand, and others responded to the nudge of Shastri to instil confidence in the people with their films. Hindi film industry prioritized nation building as its task at earnest.
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood, is one of the most influential cultural industries in India. Over the decades, its intersection with politics has created a complex and dynamic relationship, shaping public opinion, national identity, and even policy discourse.
Over the years, the historical context, thematic interplay, political influence, and mutual dependencies between politics and Hindi cinema have set undercurrents in the psyche of India
The relationship between politics and Hindi cinema dates back to pre-independence India, where cinema was used to promote nationalist sentiment and freedom movements. Films such as Shaheed (1965) and Gandhi (1982) portrayed political icons and contributed to the construction of patriotic narratives.
Post-independence, the themes evolved to reflect socio-political challenges such as poverty, corruption, and the Emergency period (1975–77), leading to a rise in politically charged cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.
Cinema, thus, emerged as a political tool, with influence even in shaping India’s foreign relations. Raj Kapur’s ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani, Sir Par Lal Topi Russi set India’s relations with Japan and Russia through the prism of the people to people contact. Even now, the song sung by Raj Kapur is played by bands at official banquets hosted for the state visits of India in Russia.
Manoj Kumar: The Quintessential ‘Bharat Kumar’ of Indian Cinema
Films have served as a reflection of society, often highlighting political issues such as caste discrimination (Aarakshan, 2011), farmer suicides (Peepli Live, 2010), and terrorism (Haider, 2014). Bollywood has also been used to create or reinforce political ideologies and values.
But lately, critics have slammed Hindi films for furthering propaganda. There has been increasing concern over the use of Bollywood for state-sponsored narratives.
For example, films like Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) and The Kashmir Files (2022) have been critiqued for promoting nationalist agendas aligned with ruling party ideologies. This phenomenon blurs the line between cinema as art and cinema as political propaganda.
Indeed, film stars had close relations with leading politicians of the country through the decades. Shastri had close relations with Manoj Kumar and Dev Anand. Akshay Kumar currently is known to have good relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kangana Ranaut has become an MP from the ranks of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BKP)
In the past, several Bollywood actors have transitioned into politics, leveraging their popularity to win electoral mandates. Amitabh Bachchan – briefly a Member of Parliament in the 1980s, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini, Jaya Prada, Dharmendra, and many others enjoyed long political careers.
Celebrities often participate in political campaigns, brand ambassador roles for government initiatives (e.g., Swachh Bharat), and influence public opinion, thereby affecting democratic processes.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has often been at the center of controversy for censoring politically sensitive content. Films like Udta Punjab (2016) and Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016) faced pushback due to their bold political themes, raising concerns over creative freedom and state overreach.
OTT platforms have allowed for more daring and politically nuanced content (e.g., Tandav, Paatal Lok), though they too have faced political backlash, demonstrating the expanding battleground of political influence beyond traditional cinema.
Today’s audiences are more politically aware and critical. Social media has amplified both support and opposition to politically inclined films, making Bollywood a battleground for ideological contestation.
The interplay between politics and Hindi cinema is both historical and evolving. While Bollywood continues to mirror society’s political pulse, it also shapes it, sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly. This relationship remains vital in understanding India’s socio-political fabric, where entertainment is never entirely divorced from ideology.
Join the WhatsApp Channel of The Raisina Hills
Follow on Google News https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMNK2vwsw39HWAw?hl=en-IN&gl=IN&ceid=IN%3Aen
About The Author
