The New Type Of Political Advertising In India Is Film Industry?

The silver screen and politics have often intertwined in India. Many actors have become politicians while Bollywood has not stopped from tackling political issues in its plotlines.

Bollywood filmmakers are seeking to cash in on this year's Loksabha election with a host of political movies, some of which seems to be party’s propaganda according to critics.

This year started with the release of the controversial “The Accidental Prime Minister” and “Uri: The Surgical Strike”. Both were released with much criticisms regarding that the Loksabha elections are coming. Now the trailer of the biopic on Narendra Modi “PM Narendra Modi” has also been released. Anyone could understand the exaggeration given in the film. Even though the makers disapprove the thought of political advertising, the plot is not clear.

Political movies have also shown the other side of the government. "Kissa Kursi Ka" (Story of the chair) and "Aandhi" (Storm) were both banned by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi in the 1970s. The former (1977) was viewed as satirizing her politics, while the latter (1975) was based on her relationship with her martyred husband.

Further "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro" (Let it be, friends) became a cult classic in 1983 for its satirical tackling of corruption while 2010's "Peepli Live" was praised for tackling the difficult subject of farmer suicides.

"What we have this year are quite a few films, some of which are biopics, that appear to be uncritical and unabashedly push the agenda of a particular party, its policies and political philosophies," said reviewer Nandini Ramnath.

Supporters of Congress party have tried to stir up controversy around the "The Accidental Prime Minister", holding protests and even going to court, unsuccessfully, to try to block its release.

They claim that it portrays senior Congress members in a bad light and is propaganda for Modi and his ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Even though the director denies the allegations, we are not sure of the political deceptions.

"This film is not about politics but about the relationship between Dr Singh and Sanjaya Baru through Baru's eyes. They are both heroes of the film. It's not propaganda," told director Vijay Gutte.

The Hindi-language film sees veteran actor Anupam Kher, a vocal supporter of Modi, play former prime minister Dr.Manmohan Singh of the Congress party. Some social media users and film critics have accused Kher of comically mimicking Singh's slow and measured way of walking and talking but the actor believes he has captured his mannerisms perfectly.

"It will take you a little time to distinguish between the real and the reel," Kher tweeted last month when posting a photo of Singh in his character.

However, a reviewer told "The Accidental Prime Minister" an "out-and-out propaganda film, created for the specific purpose of making the former prime minister look like a weak, spineless man".

The nationalistic proud film “Uri: The Surgical Strike” which celebrates the Indian Army's attack in 2016, in response to the killing of 19 brave Indian soldiers was a huge hit in every Indian’s mind. Modi was widely applauded for the operation he coordinated in the film.

"Thackeray", a biopic about controversial Mumbai politician Bal Thackeray who died in 2012, is designed to boost support for the Shiv Sena - a Hindu extremist party which was founded and led by him.

A Shiv Sena politician has written the screenplay of the movie, which got hit the screens around Thackeray's 93rd birthday. The political agenda is clear from this.

This January also saw the release of the Telugu-language biopic on actor-turned Andhra Pradesh politician NT Rama Rao.

"... Popular cinema has emerged as an arena for propaganda, with a greater ability to sway opinion and spread ideas than other media," said Ramnath, a critic reviewer.

The trailer of the film "PM Narendra Modi" is likely to earn huge critic reviews for its political propaganda!