Amitabh Bachchan criticised the present breed of historical films as couched in fictionalised jingoism on Thursday while tracing the history of Indian cinema.
In a statement he gave to officially start the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival, Amitabh Bachchan said that the Indian film industry has always promoted bravery and maintained an equitable atmosphere.
“Since early times there have been many changes in cinema content … from mythological films and socialist cinema to the advent of the angry young man … to the current brand of historicals, couched in fictionalised jingoism, along with moral policing,” the Octogenarian superstar said.
He added, “The range has kept audiences reflecting on the politics and social concerns of the times.”
The actor also pointed out that even now “questions are being raised on civil liberties and freedom.”
Amitabh’s statement came as a second consecutive shocker for the audience present at the event, as megastar Shah Rukh Khan, who spoke immediately before Big B, referred to how social media is often driven by a narrowness of views that enclose collective narrative and makes it more divisive and destructive.
“This sense of negativity often increases social media consumption and such pursuits often enclose collective narrative and make it more divisive and destructive,” SRK said
The superstar also spoke of legendary movie maker Satyajit Ray, with whom he and his wife had shared a close relationship, and pointed out that his 1989 movie Ganashatru (Enemy of the people) was perhaps an indication of how Ray may have reacted to the current times.
Ganashatru highlights the struggle between religious superstition and medieval prejudices in a doctor’s fight against an epidemic.
Bachchan also thanked the City of Joy for giving him his first job and for giving his wife Jaya her first film Mahanagar (The Big City, 1963) directed by Satyajit Ray. The actor’s first job was at Kolkata-based Bird & Co., a former British-owned firm.
“I salute you all for the artistic temperament that embraces the essence of plurality, that is what makes Bengal so special,” he said.
