Khans to lead the charge in patriotic film fest on I-Day
AAMIR AND SHAH RUKH WERE CRITICISED BY BJP POLITICIANS, INCLUDING MANOHAR PARRIKAR, FOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST INTOLERANCE IN INDIA
NEW DELHI: The patriotic reel avatars of actors Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, who faced criticism for speaking out against alleged intolerance in India, are the BJP-led government’s pick to reignite nationalism this Independence Day.
Two of the biggest hits of the Bollywood stars, Lagaan and Chak De!, are among several films to be screened at a festival to mark the 70th Independence Day.
The festival, organised by the I&B ministry, will open on Friday with Richard Attenborough’s classic Gandhi at the Siri Fort Auditorium in Delhi.
In Lagaan, Aamir Khan played Bhuvan, a village youth who took on the British empire through a cricket match that has become part of Bollywood folklore.
Shah Rukh Khan portrayed the coach of the Indian women’s hockey team in Chak De! that turned into a popular patriotic slogan.
Last year, the Khans had expressed concern about “growing intolerance” in India, triggering a torrent of criticism from political leaders, especially controversial BJP MP Yogi Adityanath and VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi.
Aamir Khan had said he and his wife Kirran were even considering leaving India due to fear of persecution.
Last month defence minister Manohar Parikkar had said that “an actor” speaking against the country should be taught a lesson, which were seen as targeted against Aamir Khan.
Besides the films starring the Khans, the week-long festival will also have audiences reconnect with Sardar Patel and Veer Savarkar and revisit the 1962 Indo-China war with Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat and JP Dutta’s Border based on the Battle of Longewala during the India-Pakistan war of 1971.
Also on the list are “heroes” that the NDA government thinks have not been adequately celebrated. It has chosen Shyam Benegal’s Subhash Chandra Bose-The Forgotten Hero’ and Chitrath’s Shaheed Udham Singh for screening.
PM Narendra Modi has asked the ministry to involve the “people of the nation” in the celebrations and is part of the larger commemorative programme that will include showcasing the might of the three armed forces, and food and cultural festivals that capture India’s diversity.
Manoj Kumar, the poster boy of patriotic films in India who was recently conferred the highest film honour the Dadasaheb Phalke will be seen as Bharat in his directorial venture Upkar.
The festival is not limited to being a throwback to the yesteryears. For the younger generation there is patriotism showcased through sports in films; they will get to watch Priyanka Chopra as Mary Kom throw punches and Shreyas Talpade’s emotive portrayal of a hearing and speech impaired cricketer’s struggle to join the Indian team in Iqbal.
Regional patriotic films have also been lined up for the festival.