Bollywood Film Analysis

Bollywood has always represented the mood of India. The movie goers of India often say, if you want to see how India is feeling, just randomly pick up a few movies and you will get a taste of India. The “Muslim male”, often misrepresented and thus misunderstood, is an interesting character in relation to the industry because it portrays the ever changing face of the nation since the independence of the country. As India has grown and transformed into an independent nation, so has the character and portrayal of the Muslim male characters throughout the industry; some may argue for the worst and others may claim neutrality. Often in movies we will see them portrayed as “threats of some kind; terrorists, sexual predators, traitors or abnormal in some way, departing from the cherished values of the nation (Hirji, 59).” Meanwhile, The Hindu male is a secular figure, who presents as a level headed male, in control of himself and his destiny and respectful to other religious traditions, ((((((((((((((especially Muslims.))))))))))))))))

Nonetheless, the tensions between India and Pakistan have certainly played a significant role in the development and often negative portrayal of this particular character. After the shock that came from the unforgettable and perhaps unresolved events of the September 11th, 2001, the culture of the mainstream media was shifted and centered on an “us against them” mentality. Not only did this draw negative international attention to the Muslim male, it also escalated the pace at which anti-Islamic/Muslim male films would be produced in Bollywood.

Muslim characters, particularly the males in Bollywood movies have seen remarkable changes over the last five to six decades. During the golden age of Indian cin...

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...t tell the world including the president of the United States of America that his name is Khan, and he is not a terrorist. In other words, yes, he is a Muslim; however, he is NOT a terrorist. India was one of the only countries that made a movie in defense of the Muslim male in the aftermath of the events of 9/11. The movie gives the audiences a completely unique and unprecedented way to look at the Muslim male. Rizwan, who is a Muslim, is married to a non-Muslim female, he has a psychological impediment, and he is the central Muslim male who is the protagonist, given the responsibility to clear the name of Islam to the World and the country that has held it responsible for the terrorist attacks. This movie allows the world to see how hard life became for the average Muslim family due to the stereotypes and prejudices that people began to hold against them.