Dont you think the Bollywood film industry is giving a wrong picture?

Question

This is a question for the Indian people. No offence. But I want to know that is the Bollywood film industry giving a wrong picture of the Muslims? YOu notice that you see a lot of Islamic terrorists and jihadis being depicted in the movies. Secondly there is a lot of Muslim women marry Hindu man. According to Islam, a muslim woman cannot marry a non muslim. That is giving a wrong picture of Islam. You should not portray negatives of any religion. Good and bad people exist everywhere. I expect educated answers. NO insults or bashing. I would also like some answers from the Indian Muslims.

Answer 1

Hi there... I am an Indian muslim... I really like your question.. you are right in your point... There are quiet a few Indian movies depicting terrorists as muslims... with beards, and using islamic salutations etc... as if any good muslim who prays is likely to be a terrorist.. Some movies where India and Pakistan are shown to be at war... the muslim terrorist says, stuff like "Inshallah, we will destroy India" its really irritating... Some movies showing muslim girls marrying hindu boys... as if what our religion teaches is not acceptable to our youth... And in any movie, a muslim is required to go to a shrine (durgah)... this gives wrong impression that muslims worship besides Allah... Yes, some movies do tend to depict wrong picture of Islam... India is multi-cultural, and people co-exist peacefully, but things like these can spark fury...
Some movies fortunately however, show muslims in good light... show things in true light... what the minority suffers... even a dialogue or two is sometimes sufficient to give the message. That of us sometimes being neglected in field of development, education, work... or that some youth are wrongly accused for terrorist activities... and state run organised riots and massacres of the minority that has happened in the recent past....
So, its not all that bad... If they wouldn't portray anything sensitive, then no movie about state run riots upon minority would come through... Just hope the negativity ends soon....

Peace...

Answer 2

Yea I definitely do think that Indian Muslims are being portrayed inaccurately. This could partly stem from the whole Pakistan and India conflict, and can influence the producer's and director's take on a script (it's still wrong though). I know that it's totally not politically correct to portray all Muslims as terrorists and suicide bombers. Now the fact that they portray Muslim girls marrying Hindu men is not that out of the ordinary, some girls do (same for Hindu women marrying Muslim men). However, not everyone does that, of course.

Answer 3

I think you're watching too many Bollywood action flicks. Although I'm relatively new to Bollywood, anti-Muslim sentiment in the films seems to be limited to only a few of the film makers (and as far as I know, those film makers have been criticized for it). It sort of reminds me of the way Communist countries were depicted in the 1960s in America. Yes, it's racist/bigoted and inaccurate, but remember that India and Pakistan have a very tenuous grasp on peace. I mostly watch comedies and romances, so I see very little anti-Muslim sentiment in Bollywood.

Thankfully, some film makers are trying to fight this stereotype. Main Hoon Na, for example, had a Hindutva terrorist as the bad guy.

I haven't seen any films in which Muslim women marry Hindu men, however I guess you have. While it may be against the rules of Islam, it has happened. There are Muslim actresses in Bollywood who are married to Hindu men. Bollywood is much more religiously liberal than most of India and Pakistan. Look at the way Shah Rukh Khan (whose wife is Hindu) is raising his kids. Perhaps this seems like a plausible plot point to Bollywood film makers because they have friends who have lived it. It may not make sense to most of the audience, but it makes sense to them.

I hope that helps. I agree, anti-Muslim/Hindu/Christian, etc. sentiment sucks. Just remember that the world is much more complicated than we would like to believe, and that our art reflects that.

Answer 4

the terrific comedians in Bollywood till date have been Mahmood and Johnny Walker. out of the three u stated paresh rawal is very sturdy yet basically at loud comedy. Mehmood and Johnny walker have been astounding, they could even make u laught with in simple terms the expression of their eye and faces.

Answer 5

Everything is business and money,money and money.Of course realty is not in movies.