CINEMA & SOCIETY

As we know, cinema is a form of art, which creatively expresses the feelings of humans and a particular society or in other words one can say that the cinema or films are the mirror that reflect the society. Cinema has the potential to play an important role as a medium for social change through entertainment, information and education.

Cinema is a catalyst of a mass culture and mass art. The cinema being a powerful mass media propagate information, education, politics, music & transmission of culture among common masses. Cinema is a social monitor projecting social evils like dowry, corruption, black marketing, unemployment etc. prevalent in the society. Films also propagate fashion styles & mannerism and being a combination of visual movements and sound effects movies have a more connect with the viewers.

While speaking on the debate whether Cinema influences Society or Society influences Cinema, I think filmmakers make  films after getting influenced by a particular area/section/part/class/issue of society and further influence a larger section of society by its mass appeal.

In a country like India with a low literacy rate cinema is an effective mass medium, as such, the filmmakers have a more social responsibility to be honest in making films with a social message rapped with entertainment.

The film of every genre has its impact on the society whether it is Comedy, tragedy, thriller, romantic, science-fiction, social etc. For example Comedy films entertain & relax whereas social or tragic movies provide outlet to the emotions and Science fiction movies propagate information.

It was the era in Indian cinema when big banners were making a good number of movies on social issues such as Achhoot Kanya, Awara, Mother India, Pakeezah, Lajja, Damini, Prem Rog etc. I would not hesitate to say that in a past sometime bollywood has witnessed movies based on strong female characters such as Jab We Met, Queen, Kahaani, English Vinglish, Pink, Akira, Neerja, Naam Shabana etc.

But nowadays top banners have dried up making movies on social issues in general.  There are some filmmakers who work on good projects but they are not popular and doesn’t have a mass appeal. I feel very painful to say that filmmakers make films on social subjects only for screenings in the national/international film festivals and these movies are not even screened in the theatres for the masses.

It means bollywood filmmakers are fully aware of what a good movie is all about (they should be) but they knowingly and consciously make Masala movies with full on entertainment, filthy item numbers, lifestyle of high society, crumbling families, confused love relations, too much violence etc.

Now, the question lies in us that; Are we as a public or movie viewers, not interested in watching movies with a social quotient? Are we insensitive enough to watch the plight of different sections of our society in movies? Are we are so stressed up in our day-to-day life that we want to watch humorous & romantic movies only? Are we missing the required innovation in the bollywood movies which is required after some time?

To conclude I can say that Cinema should be a reflection of society and must contribute positively to it. The characters and incidents in the films should be like that the common masses feel connected with them. The filmmaker should come up with innovative ideas bundled with entertainment so that the movie theatres have audiences. We as public should also watch and promote movies on social issues so that filmmaker feel compelled to make movies on such themes.

–        S. D. BOGAL 

मेरे शहर का आसमान कुछ धुंधला सा है,
जाने कौन इसमें ज़हर घोल रहा है ?

HINDI POEM - KYA KISI KO INSAAN CHAAHIYE

क्या किसी को इंसान चाहिए?

किसीको राम चाहिए, किसीको रहमान चाहिए।
परेशान हूँ यही सोचकर , क्या किसीको इंसान चाहिए?
मंदिर का घड़ियाल किसीको, गिरिजा का किसीको क्रॉस चाहिए, 
गुरूद्वारे के शब्द किसीको, मस्जिद की किसीको अज़ान चाहिए।
इंसानों की लाशों पर चढ़कर, इसको मस्ज़िद, उसको मंदिर महान चाहिए,
परेशान हूँ यही सोचकर , क्या किसीको इंसान चाहिए?

मस्ज़िद से आये या गुरूद्वारे से, भूखे को तो अन्न चाहिए,
हिन्दू दे या ईसाई देदे, ठण्ड से ठिठुरते को तो कपडा चाहिए।
अस्पताल में तड़पते धर्म के ठेकेदार ने कब डॉक्टर से कहा,
कि खून उसको किसी धर्म विशेष का ही चाहिए।
बाहर आते ही जाने क्यों, फिर उसे हिन्दू, सिख या मुसलमान चाहिए।
परेशान हूँ यही सोचकर , क्या किसीको इंसान चाहिए?

FATE OF DOGRI AND DOGRAS

It was 22^nd December, a nice winter morning and after completing my morning walk, I reached home, picked up newspaper and came to the living room. I look out a news item published in the newspaper with respect to celebrations of Dogri Mannta Diwas.

Then I switched on the radio and tune in to local channel where a special report on promotion of Dogri language was running. As I was listening to the programme, my ten years old son came near me and asked, “Papa Ji, Good Morning. What are you listening on radio so early?”

“I am listening the programme on Dogri Mannta Diwas”, I replied him.

“What is Dogri Mannta Diwas”, he enquired again.

I replied again, “It is the same day in 2003, when Dogri Language, our mother tongue, was included in the 8^th Schedule of Indian Constitution in 2003.”

“Papa, tell me more about Dogri language”, my son asked.

“I will take you to a programme on Dogri Language in the evening today and it will address many of your queries,” I said to my son.

After performing day’s work when I came back home I came to know that my son was eagerly waiting for me to attend the programme as I had promised to him.

After a while, we left the house and reached the venue of the programme on scheduled time and took the seats comfortably.

The speaker (don’t recall his name) welcomed the gathering attending the programme.

While addressing all he said, “We all Dogras should come forward for the development of Dogri our Mother Tongue. More and programmes, seminars, should be conducted regularly on promotion of Dogri language. Dogri should be taught as compulsory subject in schools upto Matriculation. More job opportunities should be explored by the Government for the Dogri scholars and students.”

He further kept on saying, “the nations or people, who preserve their languages develop much faster than others. The basic principle is that the ideas or expressions comes in one’s mind in his or her own language and then he or she has to translate them into other language, if needed; and where your own language is the official language, your mental processing of translating it is not needed.

For example, in Punjab, our neighbouring state itself, Punjabi is its official language. While talking of national language, Chinese is the official language of China and Russian is the official  language of Russia.”

One more speaker addressed the gathering and said that our mother tongue Dogri is nowadays written in Devnagri script but it had its own script known as Takri or Lande. How and why the script was changed is matter of concern and research for our learned scholars. Was it a politically motivated or there was some other reason. Because of Devnagri script it is confined to small Hindu dominated areas of Jammu region excluding other Muslim populated areas of Jammu region and Sialkot in Pakistan.  

He further said, “when our Children are forced to speak Hindi in our homes consciously or sub-consciously and speaking Dogri is often seen as taboo for young ones then how could we expect Dogri to be flourished?”

The other speakers also spoke on the occasion and after that we both came back home at around 6:00 p.m. During the journey to home, my son was mum; he not even uttered a single word.

 When we reached home, my son asked me, “Papa, I’m very confused.”

I replied, “Why”

He said, “If Dogri is the mother tongue. What is Hindi?”

I replied politely, “Hindi is our National Language.”

“But one day my school teacher was saying that Urdu is the official language of our state,” he said in a puzzled manner.

“Yes, Urdu is the official language in J&K,” I replied.

“Then what about English language,” he questioned in a more confused state.

Before answering him, I thought for a while that all the questions raised by my son are a matter of concern for all of us. Anyhow I tried to make him understand that Dogri is our mother tongue of Dogras living in Jammu province while as Urdu is official language of J&K State and used in official records of Govt. Departments. Hindi is the national language of India and English being the international language is preferred over Dogri or Hindi it is used in official records, in addition to Urdu.

After taking some snacks my son left the room but I was still thinking about his point even after answering him that what is our situation as Jammuites. we don’t know official language of the state i.e. Urdu, we don’t know how to write Dogri, our mother tongue, we are not even comfortable 100% with Hindi language, our national language and English, being most preferred and promoted international language always remained an alien language for us and we somehow manage with it. 

I am not certain that our mother tongue Dogri shall be flourished when I being a Dogra, who is writing about Dogri in English language and not in Dogri as I don’t know how to write Dogri.

                                                                                        -  S. D. BOGAL

#MOVIEREVIEW – #PHILLAURI – (2017)

Today we are here the review of a movie released this Friday with a lot of buzz around it. Yes, I am talking about PHILLAURI (2017), a romantic comedy with a cute ghost starring Anushka Sharma, Diljit Dosanjh, Suraj Sharma & Mehreen Pirzada in lead roles. Co-produced by Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma & Fox Star Studios and directed by debutant Anshai Lal, PHILLAURI is inspired by Tim Burton’s animated film Corpse Bride.

PLOT:

Kannan (Suraj Sharma), a Canada return boy, is getting married to his high school girl friend Anu (Mehreen Pirzada) at Amritsar. However, Kanan is reluctant for getting marriage due to some internal conflicts and also he has picked up few western habits including intake of weed during his stay at Canada for three years. After declared as ‘Maanglik’, he is asked to marry a tree in order to solve his post-marraige problems. After resisting first, Kanan married a tree after the pressure from the family. Later, he came to know that eventually he had married a ghost Shashi (Anushka Sharma), who was residing on the fateful tree from the last 98 years.

Kannan finds it difficult to explain his encounter with ghost to his family and Anu. Shashi (the ghost) also helps Kannan in improving their relation. Shashi tells him about her 98 years old love story with a local singer ‘Fillauri’ of her village.  What was their story? How she died? For it you have to watch the movie.

ANALYSIS:

Anvita Dutta plays with the concept of love in two separate time frames. While the new age couple is marrying after the years of courtship, but the Shashi and her lover have to bear a beating from her elder brother. During the whole movie, there is a constant flip flop from the present story to the past story.

Kannan’s character is a confused personality whereas Anu has dreamed only of marrying with Kannan. While talking of past couple, Shashi and her love are quite opposite to each other, where Fillauri wants  to prove he is worthy of her and gives up all his ill habits. The contrast of both the stories is beautifully shown.

The first scene of Kannan’s dream is very beautiful and show us his state of mind. Kannan’s encounter with Shashi is funny. The chemistry between Anushka and Diljit is also looking nice.

Few scenes linger too long where your patience runs out. The movie is slow and the second half of the movie seems overstretched and at times I feel that there is something missing in the past story of Anushka and Diljit.

The poetries of Fillauri are beautiful and so is the music which complimented well to the story. Cinematography is good and so are the visual effects.

WHAT’S GOOD:

Phillauri is entertaining all through and Anushka is delightful as the bride ghost.

UNINTERESTING:

Film seems stretched at times in the second half particularly during the end. The past love story of Shashi-Phillauri should have given more space. The concept was nice but there is something missing in the story.

STAR PERFORMANCES:-

Anushka Sharma pulls off a nice act as a ghost. She also looked good in her role in the flashback. But I can say that her complete skills couldn’t be exploited in the present movie.

Diljit Dosanjh is a treat to watch in the movie. He beautifully carries the character of change of heart and performs the transformation quite efficiently.

Suraj Sharma aptly portrays the confused NRI. However, he doesn’t look appropriate as a lead actor.

Mehreen Pirzada also played her charcter beautifully.

FINAL WORDS:

A NICE MOVIE FOR REGULAR MOVIE GOERS, GOOD ENTERTAINMENT VALUE... A LOVE GHOST TO WATCH... BUT THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING IN THE STORY.....

My ratings for this movie is 2.6 out of 5 stars.

So keep following the page, good day till the next review

Bogal | R E V I E W S

#MOVIEREVIEW – #BADRINATH KI DULHANIA – (2017)

Today we are here with the 2^nd instalment of a franchise that began with HUMPTY SHARMA KI DULHANIA in 2014 and named BADRINATH KI DULHANIA (2017). The movie is a rom-com starring Varun Dhawan & Alia Bhat is directed by Shashank Khaitan and produced by the Karan Johar. Inspite of humour and the movie is herewith a social message of independent life and equal opportunities for girls. The movie has touched many things such as Gender issues, Feminism, consent, dowry.

PLOT:

Set in small towns of Jhansi and Kota where patriarchy is obvious as a crack of dawn, the movie revolves around Badrinath (Varun Dhawan), a Sahukar’s son and a middle class girl Vaidehi (Alia Bhatt). Badri, who is looking for a bride accidently finds Vaidehi in a marriage and falls for him. He somehow tried to manage his love at first sight into an arrange marriage due to the fear of his Patriarch father but Vaidehi was not ready for marriage due to her broken heart. Badri helps Vaidehi and her family in arranging his own marriage and marriage of her elder sister but after that there is a twist which turns the yet humorous movie into a serious one.

ANALYSIS:

The character of Alia is backbone of the movie. She emotes well, she is fierce and real; a girl who is pushed down who gets back up, who protects her dream and doesn’t have emotionally weak and lived up to her dreams. Varun & Alia as a couple are also looked well once again on silver screen.

From the very first scene, we are shown how in most cases, a boy is considered an asset and a girl child as Liability. Some scenes may have been omitted such as scene where Badri put Vaidehi in a dicky of a car in anger. The first half of the movie is loaded with funny dialogues whereas the second one is full on emotional and leaves social impact. The climax seems little bit over dramatic.

The film at no point of time become moralistic, it kept its main theme of entertainment complemented with nice and songs, comic scenes and powerful performances of supporting cast. Scenes where Badri apologized Somdev after he slapped him is also good one.

WHAT’S GOOD:

Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan’s chemistry with a strong message.

UNINTERESTING:

Till when bollywood heroes follow girls who are not interested in them.

STAR PERFORMANCES:-

Varun Dhawan as Badri Nath is quite good enough. His comic timings is also spot on.

Alia Bhatt again steals the show with her stellar performance as Vaidehi. Her chemistry with Varun is also awesome.

Sahil Vaid as Somdev, Badri’s buddy also played a spectacular performance.

Yash Sinha and Shweta Basu Prasad also performed the good acts.

FINAL WORDS:

FULL ON ENTERTAINMENT WITH COMEDY, SOCIAL MESSAGE, WHAT YOU NEED IN A MOVIE GUYS.... WATCH ITTT....

My ratings for this movie is 3.6 out of 5 stars.

So keep following the page, good day till the next review

Bogal | R E V I E W S

Reality and so-called ideals: Dowry

It was about 8:00 a.m. in the morning and I was taking my bed tea. I received a phone call from Akash, my school time friend.

“What are you doing at home till now? I need you here, come fast” he told me and before I could say anything hung up the phone.

Akash Sharma is very close friend of mine from my school days. I was a mediocre student and he was an intelligent guy and now he works as an officer in a Govt. Department.

His marriage ceremony shall be held tomorrow and the marriage rituals/programme shall commence from today onwards and he has requested me accompany him in whole marriage rituals etc. till the end.

Akash Sharma is going to marry Shivani Dutta, a common friend to both of us from our College. They both like each other from college days itself but didn’t confess each other. Few months ago they decided to marry and I had to play the role of a matchmaker to convince Akash’s parents for their marriage as they are very strict and stereotypes even if there was no angle of inter-religion or inter-caste in their marriage.

I left my tea and take a bath in a hurried manner. While changing clothes, I said to my wife, “It would not be possible for you to go with me in such hurried manner.  Anyhow, when will you reach there?”

“I am interested even to go so early there; you go and enjoy your friend’s company. By the way, what is schedule of Shagun?” she asked.

“May be around 12:00 noon” I said.

“Then we will be there around 12:30 p.m.,” she replied.

After waiting for long, Shivani’s family members arrived Akash’s house at around 1:00 p.m. for Shagun ceremony alongwith sweets, fruits and traditional ‘Shagun ki thaali’ for tilak.

As soon as Duttas reached Sharma’s house, there was a buzz in the air. Many from Sharma family and their close relatives were murmuring that Duttas have came for shagun with empty hands (without gifts). In the meanwhile, one aunty among them said, “they must have brought gifts in the form of gold for Akash and his family.”

The news reached to Akash’s father like a wild fire and he instead of attending the guests sprinted towards his wife.

“What our relatives will think that where we are going to marry our son?” said Akash’s father to his wife.

“How shamelessly they have come for shagun with empty hands. Have they not even attended any Shagun ceremony?” said Akash’s mother.

“We have not demanded anything but they should have taken into consideration that how well qualified son-in-law they are getting” said Akash’s father.

I overheard the conversation between Uncle and Aunty & was reminded of the day when Shivani’s father and Uncle had come to meet Akash’s family to discuss execution of marriage between Akash and Shivani.

With folded hands Shivani’s father had asked for any demands from Akash’s family in the form of dowry as it is prevalent in the society.

But the Akash’s father refused and said, “We are not conservative and have everything in our home, we only need your daughter in two pair of dresses.”  

I was unhappy on hearing this and so would be Shivani when she came to know about it as she is a confident young girl who believes in equal rights for womenfolk.

I rushed towards Akash and told the whole stuff to him and asked to handle the situation but he behaved very strangely.

He said, “I can’t interfere in the elders’ decision as our customs don’t allow us to do so.”

“Are you the same person who was the torch-bearer for us in fighting social evils like Dowry?” I replied him in rage.

“There is a difference between Idealist lectures and life. Today if I somehow manage to persuade my family it could be difficult for Shivani to adjust with my family in future,” he cut me off and went towards his parents leaving me still in shocked state.

Then I was reminded of the day of my own Shagun ceremony.

Me and my family had already requested time and again to my in-laws to refrain away from Dowry or any such things but they still have come up with gold bracelet for me and attempted to gift it to me to which I very gently refused as I firmly believe ‘Dowry’ as a social curse. I know my family also supported my call but it was me and only me (though being a shy person) who has to take a stand against dowry.

I was still floating in my thoughts and was revived by Shivani’s younger brother, Sidharth. He said, “Bhaiya, I heard everything and had a chat in this regard with Papa. He has already managed to purchase Gold bracelet for Akash and other electronic gadgets from a friend’s shop and all the stuff would be here in sometime.”

The present situation was handled by Shivani’s family and they will also handle the whole marriage ceremony as they are well off but the problem is for those families who can’t afford dowry in race to those who can afford.

But I am surprised about Akash and other such guys like him who besides loving Shivani didn’t support her family and take a stand against Dowry even he understands the gravity of effects of Dowry to the society, being an educated person he is.

Dowry is a crime under Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 but we as a society are the social offender/s of it. Our young generation has to come forward and stop this curse to our society so that domestic violence and dowry deaths could be stopped.

                                                                                                                                -  S D BOGAL