It goes without saying that Bollywood is one of those adhesives that uphold the idea of unity in diversity in the country. Exploring how this glue works, noted documentary filmmaker Yasmin Kidwai has come up with Filmisthaan an exploratory film on Bollywood role’s in spreading the idea of India.
Commissioned by the Ministry of External Affairs, Yasmin says, she was asked to develop on the theme of pluralism in Indian’s composite culture. “For me, nothing explains it better than the concept of dargahs (shrines of Muslim saints). When you pass the threshold of dargah, you find a mix of people of different religions. Islam doesn’t believe in it (human worship). It is a kind of crossover space where it embraces other faiths. When I explained it, the response I got was that it is like watching a Bollywood film. Once you cross the threshold of a theatre, you are in a pluralistic world where the hero doesn’t necessarily has a surname and the moment he enters a religious structure, the audience knows that he is in safe territory. If he is in a mosque, the Hindus don’t doubt his victory — they clap. In fact, in this world, good and god become interchangeable,” says Yasmin as we warm up for a leisurely lunch on a muggy August afternoon at Chor Bizzare in Bikaner House.
As shikanji and palak patta chaat bring the temperature down, Yasmin says her curiosity to explore Bollywood’s unifying role took her from Kashmir to Kerala. “The haunting voice of a shikarewala on Dal Lake singing ‘Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas’ made me open the film with him and it turned out to be one of the biggest messages of the film.” Right now, the chef gets the message and offers us haaq with rice. In Kolkata, she discovered a temple dedicated to Amitabh Bachchan and in Lucknow she found a fan who worships Shah Rukh Khan. “He has changed his name from Vishal to V. Shah Rukh Khan and believes that Shah Rukh cured his cancer. He has an explanation as well. He says diseases are caused by negativity and Shah Rukh like any other god fills him with positivity.” In Kerala, she says there are two brothers from humble background who do charity in the name of Shah Rukh. “For them language doesn’t matter as for them Shah Rukh’s affection sails through without words.”
Yasmin, whose has made critically acclaimed films such as No Problem! – Six months with the Barefoot Grandmamas, doesn’t believe in building her documentary around a voice over and avoids dramatisation of events. “I don’t want to guide the narrative. We followed the fan clubs and when Amitabh Bachchan landed in Kolkata for the opening of a showroom, we followed the club members to the airport. When Bachchan came out and waved, he acknowledged their presence. It shows that stars know the value of their fans. Similarly, we shot at Shah Rukh’s bungalow during his birthday celebrations and realised that the star understands the value of his fans in his career.”
Giving heft to the narrative are voices of seasoned players such as Shyam Benegal and Javed Akhtar and actors such as Irrfan Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra who have taken Bollywood to the world.
Pluralistic language
“Benegal talks about the language of Bollywood which is not Hindi but a syncretic Hindustani and points out that the larger than life cinema has ingrained in us that the good always vanquishes the evil.” Though his cinema is different but Yasmin emphasises that Benegal refuses to call Bollywood escapist or simplistic. “He says that it keeps the hope alive in a large section of India. Similarly, Javed Akhtar talks about the value of song and dance where the hero can move from Bhangra and Kathak in a matter of moments. For Irrfan, Bollywood is Indian’s biggest export to the world that creates the idea of India. Aishwarya almost pleads that we should not shun this variety for realistic cinema as it defines us. The song and dance are part of our festivals and ceremonies and that’s why they reflect in our films and since they reflect in our films the tradition continues.”
Yasmin goes on to add that it is also the responsibility of critics not to berate this variety. “I may not believe in it but I should not be judgemental. It is about accepting the other even if you don’t understand his concept. Interestingly, we started shooting when the intolerance debate was swelling.”
New role
Planning for a theatrical release next month, Yasmin is ready to negotiate the festival circuit with her brother Fazal Kidwai, who has co-directed the film. Meanwhile, the filmmaker is getting into the groove of her new role as councillor of Delhi’s Daryganj ward. Working on Mahatma Gandhi’s principle that be the change that you wish to see in the world, Yasmin says she is not “cynical and personally ambitious.”
On the lighter side, talking about how multi-tasking has changed her life, Yasmin says she is fussy about her two cups of tea and one cup of coffee a day. “If I don’t get them, I am a different person,” she chuckles. On the experiences of canvassing, Yasmin recalls how samosas made a comeback in her life so that she is not considered rude. “I had given up on samosa many years back but after the first few meetings I discovered that no sabha is complete without them and I was advised not to say no. In fact, my sister-in-law even joked about having a healthy menu where one could have a banana or glucose biscuits.” Her urge for two cups of tea is so strong that once she took a spot boy with her on shoot. “My colleagues commented that it doesn’t go with the image of a documentary filmmaker but I decided to pay him from my salary. We were travelling by car so it didn’t prove very expensive and once we were on location everybody wanted to avail his services,” laughs Yasmin.
Like in films, is there is female gaze in politics as well? Yasmin says she can’t generalise but what is needed is an ‘empathetic gaze.’ “As far as sanitation is concerned, women are definitely better, and I have OCD. I am a kind of person who would offer to clean your desk,” she grins.
A mother of two sons, Yasmin admits it is difficult to convince her kids about her absence. “Analysing my work life, my younger one says, ‘earlier you had two jobs (she also runs a fashion label, House of Qidwa) that used to pay. Now you have three, and the third one doesn’t even pay!’” So sweet!