The Role of Indian Cinema in Shaping Public Opinion on 9/11 Attack

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Just as the attacks of September 11 left a tragic mark in the American history, changing the course of its future in more than one ways, it left the rest of the world in shock and dismay as well. The attack, not only initiated Americas involvement in the war against terrorism and affected its international relations, it also greatly affected its people, creating prejudices against the Arabs, Muslims and look-a-likes causing mass hatred, discrimination and racial profiling. The American media and popular culture has made this event the center of its attention innumerable times. At the same time, foreign-based media has provided its own detached point of views on 9/11 and the objective of this article is to bring forth some of those point of views depicted by the Indian cinema or more popularly known as Bollywood, and to study its impact on the Indian society.

This article presents a detailed analysis of the movie – New York released in 2009 and directed by renowned Indian director Kabir Khan, which was the first Indian movie, based on the September 11 attacks that took place in New York City in 2001. This movie divides time into a pre and post 9/11 world, to clearly highlight the repercussions of the attacks and changes that it has brought about in the society by depicting issues such as racial profiling, illegal detaining, torture, homeland security etc. The main argument supported by this fictional movie is the irreversible damage caused by the prejudices that have taken over America post 9/11 and the way suspects were detained based on just their race or appearance, for months and tortured despite any evidence.

It is not the daily news, newspapers, books or magazines, but the Indian cinema that has undoubtedly remained the ...

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Works Cited

1. "HM announces measures to enhance security" (Press release). Press Information Bureau (Government of India). 11 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.

2. Deepti Misri - Women and Gender Studies Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA. Published online: 02 May 2013

3. Mir, R. (2009, 12). Indian Bollywood and Muslim subject Interpretations, Retieved 05, 2014, from http://raoofmir.wordpress.com/tag/bollywood/

4. Kazmi, Nikhat (26 June 2009). "Times of India Review: New York". Times of India. Retrieved 2009-06-26.

5. Saboo, V. (2009, 06). Will The Real Terrorists Please Stand Up.Mouthshut. Retrieved 05, 2014, from http://www.mouthshut.com/review/New-York-review-otsullplsm

6. (1994, 12). Various Definitions of Terrorism. Retrieved 05, 2014, from http://www.azdema.gov/museum/famousbattles/pdf/Terrorism%20Definitions%20072809.pdf

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