Fear and Prejudice in Bollywood
On Dec. 1, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, one of the most opulent and operatic filmmakers in Bollywood, was releasing his movie “Padmavati,” which is based on a mythical Hindu queen. Two weeks before the theatrical release, some Hindu activists from the Rajput warrior caste declared that the movie hurt the sentiments of their community by depicting a Muslim king lusting after a Rajput queen. And they could not permit that to be shown under any circumstance.
The trailer of the movie, which has garnered more than 51 million views on YouTube, depicts a bejeweled Queen Padmavati — played by popular Indian actor, Deepika Padukone — preparing her husband, a Rajput king, for battle against Alauddin Khilji, the 14th century Sultan of Delhi.… Seguir leyendo »