By Sushil Kutty
The Narendra Modi biopic is in the news. Movies generally make it to the news. Quite a few of them make headlines. The good ones are feted. The bad ones are thrashed. But it’s the previews that are killing the Narendra Modi biopic even before its release. Actually views. Of political parties. Of liberals. Their glimpse of the biopic so far limited to a trailer – picture abhi baaki hai! Opposition parties already view it as shameless publicity for Narendra Modi and the BJP in an election month. Propaganda.
Then, again, the pre-release publicity the biopic is getting a la Padmavati is what should worry political rivals. But, don’t we keep hearing “Yeh voter Hai, Yeh Sab Jaanta Hai”; that it is very hard to fool voters? The majority of voters must have already made up their minds. It’s a safe bet to assume that those who had problems with Modi’s demonetization will not vote the BJP. Ditto those who think GST is a headache which should be treated, amputated.
Of course, we do not know if the biopic touches on demonetization and GST. If it does, it must be a skim-over, not a makeover of the two unpopular measures. The complaint is the biopic does not touch on ‘Modi-the-Horrible.’ Does not show Modi with warts and all; that it depicts Modi as “Vishnu and God-like.” But most biopics steer clear of demonizing. Only the biopics of the already dead are honest renditions. And, then, too, they get into trouble.
Modi shown in bad light could lead millions to raise Cain. BJP ‘bhakts’ would be out on the streets and on twitter/Facebook raising ruckus and more. “How about the cow vigilante?” asks an actor; angry with the timing of the release of the biopic and taking objection to the creative licence taken by the fawning makers of the biopic. “The atrocities committed on Dalit and Muslims during Modi’s time, the intolerance. Does the biopic dwell on these, too?”
Frankly speaking, it shouldn’t actually matter. The people of India know Modi for a full prime ministerial term and before; what they don’t know about Modi would not be enough to make a biopic on him. Modi is seen as “divisive” personality by most analysts. He brings out strong emotions in people. You either like him or you hate him. There is no in-between. Shutting out Modi traits will stand out starker than if they are shown.
The Congress asks: “Why release five days before the first phase election date?” The biopic releases April 5. The first phase election date is April 11. That is cutting it a too fine. People will watch and hear of all the good things about Modi and they’ll be so impressed, they’ll vote BJP in droves, says the grand old party. Complaints have been lodged with the Election Commission.
Maybe some dumbos would. The Rip Van Winkle-types who slept through Modi’s five year tenure and, when awake, never watched Modi’s coverage in the Republic. That being said, the release timing does raise eyebrows. It’s also alleged that the biopic release was “preponed”, a word the good sub-editor will try to avoid as much as possible unless threatened with lynching.
So, why advance the release? And why make the biopic in extra-quick time? Unless, it’s to give Modi a sheen before voting day. The trailer shows in bold titles “Based on True Story”. If so, why aren’t cow vigilante and demonetization playing suitable roles, along with Vivek Oberoi? Now, Oberoi is more a flop hero than a successful actor. He’s also allegedly a “card-carrying member of the BJP.”
But then, biopics hardly make heroes. They don’t have to. Most are about heroes; of living and dead legends. This one on Modi allegedly dumps truth for hoax. Ha! Who in Bollywood has the guts to show Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a way he shouldn’t or wouldn’t like to be shown? Do not look for sarcasm here, but it’s a fact it will be very hard to find fault with a Prime Minister like Modi, not till he’s voted out.
There could only be trouble at the end of the rainbow for those who try to make an honest assessment of Modi the man. Modi is not an easy man to play catch-ball with. Neither cricket. And Kabadi, only Pakistan Air Force F-16s play: Flying into Indian airspace and scooting back the next second. Does the Modi biopic include scenes depicting Pulwama and the Balakote airstrikes? If so, does it end with Modi taking the oath for Prime Minister, the second time? Good question. (IPA Service)