Precis

In India the Modi government is being accused of waging a war on Bollywood, the country’s most powerful cultural force, effectively turning it into a propaganda tool.

Filmmakers who dare to criticise the government or resist pressure to produce pro-Hindu content face a backlash.

This week on Foreign Correspondent, the ABC’s South Asia Correspondent Avani Dias goes behind the scenes in Bollywood to meet industry insiders who’ve risked their careers to speak candidly on camera.

In the words of one well-known actor: “If you want to thrive in Bollywood you have to suck up or shut up”.

It's left some asking whether free speech is at risk in the largest democracy in the world under Modi’s reign.

Episode teaser, intro. Crowd at film trailer premiere, Avani at event

00:10

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: In southern India, a hype event is underway for a movie slated to be the biggest blockbuster of the year. One the country’s most visited Hindu temples is the backdrop.

00:19

Announcer: "Today we’re going to show the final trailer of Adipurush."

00:34

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: You wouldn’t know it from looking at this fanfare, but behind the scenes, things are tense. The film was meant to be released months ago. But there’s a problem. Senior members of prime minister Narendra Modi’s party, the BJP, are threatening to ban the film.

00:39

Avani to camera at premiere

There are so many journalists here, obviously the hype is massive. But we’re not getting any interviews with the cast or the crew at this event the filmmakers are worried about political controversies.

01:01

Crowd at premiere

The filmmakers have been frantically recutting the movie, after BJP politicians accused it of mocking Hindu gods. It’s called Adipurush, based on the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. In India, where films are virtually a religion, the stakes are high, especially for its film stars, who are among the most worshipped on earth. Traditionally, Bollywood has brought people together, but under Narendra Modi’s reign, that’s changing.

01:14

SWARA BHASKER, Actor: If you want to thrive in Bollywood, you have to shut up.

01:51

Swara

Suck up or shut up.

01:55

Return to film event

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Kashmir Files Director: We have always made political films. India has a history of making

01:58

Vivek

a number of political films. We have made political films for the last hundred years.

02:02

Return to film event

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Politicians in Modi’s party are threatening legal action or bans

02:07

Avani to camera. Super:
Avani Das

against films and TV shows. One politician even put out a bounty on a famous film star’s head, and the Prime Minister is promoting films which follow his political goals. And the message is clear -- follow our agenda or face the consequences.

02:12

Film event

Announcer: "Glory to Lord Ram!"

02:29

Title:
BOLLYWOOD
Behind the Scenes

Music

02:33

Mumbai GVs. Super:
MUMBAI, INDIA

02:42

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: I’m in Mumbai, home to India's biggest stars, and a mecca for Bollywood fans. This city is where the ultra-rich live next-door to slums.

02:53

Avani to camera in tuk tuk

Everywhere you look around there are massive billboards with the next big movies and tv shows that coming out. There are murals across the city of the biggest names in the industry. This is very much the Hollywood of this country. And if you want to make it in this industry, you have to come to Mumbai.

03:11

Tuk Tuk in traffic to dance studio

Tucked away in one of Mumbai's alleys, a group of aspiring stars is in rehearsals.

03:35

Dance rehearsals

03:47

DANCER: Bollywood... It's like, I think it's like the air here in India, it's like the air, it's like what you breathe.

03:54

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Bollywood is the term for Hindi-language films. It’s become synonymous with Indian cinema, which spans many languages and genres. Sumeet Nagdev is one of Bollywood's leading film choreographers.

04:04

Sumeet interview

SUMEET NAGDEV, Choreographer: So when we are watching cinema, we become a cheerleader. Oh, you know, it's great. And if it's, if it's well-made and it touches the Indian ethos of mythology and culture, you've got a winner there.

04:29

Dance rehearsals

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: When people think of Bollywood, they think of fun and dancing. But films have a major sway over audiences.

04:45

Sumeet interview

SUMEET NAGDEV, Choreographer: The impact of film is huge in our country. I can tell you sometimes people are so influenced by what they see in films that they apply it immediately to their real life.

04:54

Mumbai street GVs

Music

05:05

Cinema

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: This is where Bollywood comes to life. For years, Indian families have gathered in iconic cinemas like this to watch films.

05:19

Avani and Prof Bhaskar walk to cinema

Professor Ira Bhaskar is one of the country’s most prominent experts in Indian cinema.

05:33

She says she’s been witnessing the transformation of films since Modi came to power. What has changed after Modi came to power?

05:47

Prof Bhaskar interview in cinema foyer

PROF. IRA BHASKAR, Jawaharlal Nehru University: I think this government and the Prime Minister, Mr. Modi, himself, really, for the first time, have mobilised cinema as a propaganda tool. They've understood the power of cinema, not just documentaries but actually fiction cinema, mainstream cinema, because mainstream cinema has the ability to reach out to millions and millions of people.

06:01

GFX: News footage screening in empty cinema

Music

06:23

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Narendra Modi became the leader of the world’s largest democracy nearly ten years ago, pushing the agenda that the secular nation is a Hindu state, enacting laws that critics say have marginalised and persecuted religious minorities.

06:29

Prof Bhaskar interview

PROF. IRA BHASKAR, Jawaharlal Nehru University: So the Hindu nationalist project is to claim India only for Hindus. In other words, it's a direct attack on minorities, and especially the largest minority is the Muslim community. So the agenda really is to subjugate them in such a manner that they're invisible.

06:48

GFX: RRR screening in empty cinema. Avani and Prof Bhaskar in cinema

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Hindu pride was on full display in India's most internationally successful film RRR, which last year, became the first Indian production to win an Oscar. It’s part of an influx of south Indian films now dominating the industry.

07:11

Excerpt. RRR. Super:
RRR

07:30

So in this clip, where we seeing this human tower, we're seeing a lot of colour being used especially the colour of saffron. Can you tell me why that's significant?

07:39

PROF. IRA BHASKAR, Jawaharlal Nehru University: It's symbolic of defiance of the colonial power and the assertion of Indian identity, right?

07:51

Avani and Prof Bhaskar in cinema

Indian cultural and religious identity. The colour, actually, in this particular sequence is more red. Has a more reddish tone, which traditionally is also rebellion.

07:58

RRR screening

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: RRR tells a fictional story of south Indian Telegu revolutionaries becoming friends, and it’s inspired by Hindu texts. The movie's director SS Rajamouli denies the film supports the BJP’s ideology; critics like Ira disagree.

08:12

PROF. IRA BHASKAR, Jawaharlal Nehru University: It reinforces the government's agenda clearly by saying that Indians and Hindus have always been powerful and have been able to defeat the colonial powers.

08:33

So the government's agenda is to demonstrate again and again what they believe Indians have forgotten, which is the greatness of Hindu civilisation and the greatness of our heroes.

07:47

Mumbai beachside GVs

Music

09-08

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: For those in the industry whose projects anger the government, the backlash is severe.

09:16

Street GV/Mohammed walks to cafe

One of India's up and coming stars is facing criminal charges for his lead role in a major Amazon Prime series. At this popular celebrity haunt, actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub first read the script for the show.

MOHAMMED ZEESHAN AYYUB, Actor: When I first heard the idea, for me, it was like oh,

09:23

Mohammed interview in café, reading script

you are making Indian House of Cards.

09:45

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: In 2018, Zeeshan was offered the role on the series called Tandav, a political thriller. His character was named Shiva, after the Hindu god. The script reflected the real-life tense political climate, including references to protests and police killings.

MOHAMMED ZEESHAN AYYUB, Actor: It's about politics and the dark side of politics.

0955

Mohammed interview

If you are making a show about politics, it will be affected by the political scenario around you.

10:21

Mohammed in café

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: The show came out in 2021, and the fallout was immediate. In India, insulting religion is a criminal offence. BJP politicians made official complaints to police. They accused the show’s makers and Zeeshan of defaming the prime minister’s office, promoting hatred between religions, and mocking Hindu gods.

MOHAMMED ZEESHAN AYYUB, Actor: It was politically motivated,

10:30

Mohammed interview

clearly, and that is why they were doing it, so there was something that they wanted to achieve, and that is why that was happening.

10:55

Mohammed in café reading script

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Zeeshan and his colleagues were formally charged and police were monitoring his home.

11:05

Mohammed interview

MOHAMMED ZEESHAN AYYUB, Actor: It was ridiculous. One of the most difficult period of my life. Those 10, 15 days, we didn't know what is happening . We didn't know how things will unfold and what will happen.

11:15

Mohammed in café reading script

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Tandav’s director apologised within days and announced they’d be cutting several scenes from the show deemed offensive. The controversy put international streaming platforms on notice. MOHAMMED ZEESHAN AYYUB, Actor: It was, I think, kind of a warning for people

11:28

Mohammed interview

that you should be in your limits and just make the kind of stuff that we agree with.

11:50

Zeeshan’s face on billboards

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Zeeshan’s face is back on billboards across the city. If convicted, he’s facing three years in jail.

11:57

Mumbai street GVs

Music

12:12

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Films that align with the BJP’s views receive a wave of support.

12:19

Avani in car to meet Vivek

Music

12:26

Vivek, film set

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: I’m heading to a film set to meet director Vivek Agnihotri who’s responsible for one of India's highest grossing films last year, The Kashmir Files. It was also polarising. Today he’s making a new movie about India's home-grown COVID vaccine, lauded as the country’s saviour during the pandemic.

12:38

Vivek interview

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: it's a great story of a war between greedy, capitalistic pharma lobbies versus totally selfless women.

13:06

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: What kind of story does it tell about India to the rest of the world?

13:15

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: About commitment to humanity, about a conviction that we can do it when everybody thought we can't do it.

13:18

Crew members pray

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Like many Indian workplaces, crew members start their day with a Hindu prayer.

13:27

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: So whichever film it doesn’t matter. In India, everywhere they start with this…

13:33

Vivek directs actor

13:54

Vivek interview

We are doing a lot of these scenes with the antagonist of the film. She's a journalist and how she manipulates media, what she does with the media and how there's a media war going parallel on the scientists and how they're fighting media.

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Journalist as the antagonist.

14:03

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: The bad journalists. Not all journalists are bad. In fact, journalists are very good people. I am also a journalism student.

14:18

Vivek directs actor

14:29

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Most of Vivek’s previous films flopped at the box office. But his last film, The Kashmir Files, was an unexpected smash hit.

14:32

Vivek interview on set

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: See after Kashmir Files, it is the biggest success ever. And there was a lot of pressure on me to repeat that and make a big film with big stars and how it happens every time.

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Pressure from who?

14:45

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: From everywhere. From media people, peer group, and everybody expects that, because when your film is commercially very successful, people want you to make bigger film and things like that.

14:57

Pallavi on set

15:08

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Vivek’s wife, Bollywood star Pallavi Joshi is featured in this movie. She also starred in The Kashmir Files, and knows firsthand the power of cinema’s influence on hearts and minds.

15:11

Pallavi interview

PALLAVI JOSHI, Bollywood actor: Cinema is a good way to kind of teach the younger generation, you know, because audio-visual mediums normally work and it leaves an image, a lasting image on your mind.

15:27

Vivek on set directing

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Part of The Kashmir Files’ success came from a concerted government push. Eight BJP-ruled states gave it a tax exemption, and mandated that government employees could have days off work to go and see the film. The BJP's national spokesperson bought free tickets for students in his local area. And prime minister Modi held a private meeting with Vivek and Pallavi.

15:44

Pallavi interview

PALLAVI JOSHI, Bollywood actor: When you know that the prime minister is kind of endorsing the film in a way, you know that you're doing something right, and you are doing something right for the country and for the citizens. We want to take India to the world. We want to show the truth about India.

16:11

Film screening in empty cinema

16:32

Avani and Prof Bhaskar in cinema

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: The events that are depicted in The Kashmir Files are highly contested. The film is set in Kashmir, a disputed region claimed by both India and Pakistan.

16:36

Super:
Prof Ira Bhaskar
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY

PROF. IRA BHASKAR, Jawaharlal Nehru University: The Kashmir Files is based on history, which is that in 1990 January of 1990, Hindu pundits, Hindus were asked by terrorist organisations, they were announcing from mosques, et cetera, that you have to leave, otherwise you'll be killed. And that did happen. And there was an exodus.

16:48

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: The film opens with a group of Muslim men attacking a Hindu boy.

17:10

Avani and Prof Bhaskar in cinema, watching Kashmir Files

What sort of message is that very first opening scene of the film trying to send?

17:14

PROF. IRA BHASKAR, Jawaharlal Nehru University: The clip is such an immediate beginning of the film that announces and declares what the agenda of this film is going to be. Now, not only is the boy being beaten up, but the poster of Shiva, the Lord Shiva, is being burnt.

17:20

So Kashmir Files plays straight into that narrative, which is the dominant narrative of the BJP, which is that the Muslims have an agenda to make India a Muslim country and therefore have to be fought, and they have to be resisted.

17:39

Traffic GVs. Avani to Vivek's office

Music

17:52

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: After spending time with Vivek on set, I've come to his office, where he wrote The Kashmir Files.

17:58

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: This is my R&D space, as I call it. This is my lab where I do all my research and writing work. Inside it’s all full of Kashmir Files research papers.

18:07

Vivek shows photo

This is with the prime minister of India. This was a great moment because, about Kashmir Files, this is the first time a film has been used as soft power of India.

18:22

Vivek interview in office

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: When you say it was a movie that was soft power, can you explain what you actually mean by that?

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: In India, generally movies are made either to entertain

18:33

or if they're for social cause they leave it there, it releases on Friday, then they forget about it. But what we did was we took this film all over the world, showcased it to policymakers, politicians, UK parliament and US congress in Capitol Hill. That the film became like a soft power to take this cause internationally and globally.

18:42

Cinema interior

19:06

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Some Kashmiri Hindus praised The Kashmir Files, saying it told their story for the first time. Others called it Islamophobic and misleading for leaving out the struggles of Kashmiri Muslims who were also killed.

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: A lot of films have been made on Kashmir,

19:10

Vivek interview. Super:
Vivek Agnihotri
DIRECTOR

but the problem was that they were saying story only of one side. And they were telling the story of the people who are already in Kashmir, which is mostly the Muslim population.

19:30

Cinema interior

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Amid the uproar, in a highly unusual step, Prime Minister Modi came out to publicly defend the film.

19:42

NARENDRA MODI, Indian Prime Minister: For me, it is not about a movie. For me, it is important to present truth in right manner. It is good for our country.

19:53

Modi speech

At this time, it's now the responsibility of people, who have been living for truth, to stand for truth. I hope all will fulfil their responsibility.

20:06

Cinema interior

CROWD: "Victory for Mother India!"

20:21

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: At screenings of The Kashmir Files, some viewers vented their anger towards Muslims.

20:24

Audience responses to film

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I want to tell all my Hindu brothers to be cautious, keep their distance from them [Muslims].

AUDIENCE MEMBER 2: Rip out their hearts. The mosque needs to be destroyed.

20:33

AUDIENCE MEMBER 3: Kashmir is ours! For all the lives sacrificed, Kashmir is ours!

20:45

Cinema interior

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: This is a sensitive topic for Vivek.

20:52

Vivek interview

There are a lot of concerns that this has incited violence and anti-Muslim violence. What do you say to that?

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: First of all, I'm not answerable to that. You have to go ask—

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: But is it your movie and you've depicted it in a particular way.

20:55

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: Well, it happens today. A movie has released, people are doing it. That's Indian culture. People vent their emotions out in cinema hall. When the big star films come people dance in cinema halls. Sometimes they abuse the villain in cinema halls. That's Indian culture. Because you are alien to Indian culture, you are saying that. So many people have loved the film. They have cried in the film.

21:07

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: But I'm asking you about the people who are chanting anti-Muslim sentiments. Are you, are you not concerned that your film-

21:27

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: Of course I'm concerned. You don't know. Perhaps you don't know. I tweeted also about that. I said this is wrong. It should not happen. But if it's happening, then I'm not answerable for everything which is happening in the world. My film made a game changing revolutionary film. For the first time somebody came out with the courage to make a film on the genocide of Hindus in India, which is their homeland. If there are repercussions, five, six people are raising some slogans. People for 30 years, nobody let them talk.

21:33

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Since the '90s, the BJP has been talking about the Kashmiri pundits. It's not an untold story.

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: I'm not, I'm not a spokesperson of BJP. I have nothing to do with them.

22:06

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: But the BJP did promote your film.

22:13

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: I mean, four and a half crore people who watched the film are not BJP people. [UNCLEAR] also promoted my film. Even women also promoted my film. LGBT community also promoted my film. Everybody promoted my film. All kinds of people promoted this film. BJP is also part of it, aren't they Indians and why, why you have a problem with BJP, aren't they Indians?

22:15

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: I don't have a problem with them-

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: But your tone is telling me. Your tone is telling me that you have some, tone is telling me. Your tone is telling me that you have some-

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: What I'm asking you is that the government promoted your film. So, what do you think about that?

22:35

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: Government never promoted my film.

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Government members promoted your film.

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: No. No government member promoted.

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Yes. Prime Minister Modi promoted your film.

22:42

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: No. He did not promote my film.

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Yes, he did.

22:49

PR Manage intervenes and interview ends

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: The film is truthful.

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Off camera, Vivek's PR manager asked us to stop the interview. Afterwards, he gave us an ultimatum.

22:50

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: We appreciate you sitting—

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: I've understood where you are going and where you are coming from and I'm pretty experienced.

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: I know. We appreciate you chatting to us.

VIVEK AGNIHOTRI, Director: Yeah. And I also appreciate you coming all the way down here. But if you show it in wrong light, then I will have to react.

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Okay, thank you…

23:03

View from window/Avani in car

When the cameras stopped rolling, Vivek demanded we don’t use the interview.

23:22

Music

23:33

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Some of those in the industry who openly oppose the government are now struggling to get work.

23:38

Swara having makeup done

Swara Bhasker is a major Bollywood star, and one of the country’s most outspoken celebrities.

23:47

SWARA BHASKER, actor: You know, I'm in showbiz and I'm in a perception sensitive field where, like, your job is literally to make more and more people like you.

23:55

Swara interview

It’s probably not smart to wear your political opinion so much on your sleeve, because it can be polarising.

27:07

Swara dons necklace

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: After getting her break in independent films, Swara started making it big in Bollywood, just as prime minister Modi won his first term in 2014.

24:14

Swara interview

SWARA BHASKER, actor: I began to see self-censorship and fear like I've never seen before 2014, in makers and in producers. So, it's very much a government and an atmosphere that does not at all try to hide the fact that if you want to work and if you want to sort of thrive in Bollywood, you have to shut up. Suck up or shut up. That's your two sort of choices.

24:31

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Swara has openly campaigned against the BJP, supported protests in opposition to Modi's government, and has publicly accused his administration of persecuting Muslims.

25:05

SWARA BHASKER, actor: It's been very damaging. There's just a lot of hesitation and a lot of fear to cast me, because people feel like, you know, that she's identified as someone who's anti Modi or against this government. I mean, I don't help my case, I guess in that sense.

25:19

PR team intervene on interview

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: We started with her career stuff as well…Swara’s PR team interrupted our interview, concerned at the direction it was heading.

SWARA BHASKER, actor: Okay, we knew this, I mean this is a film about Bollywood and politics. This is the reality, we all know it.

25:35

PR WOMAN: You can talk about it but do not take [the] name again and again.

25:52

Swara and her mother in garden

SWARA BHASKER, actor: It feels like it was a different time in the industry than like, now you look at the industry now, it feels like it's unrecognisable.

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Dozens of stars declined our requests to be involved in this program, concerned about the repercussions it could have on their career.

26:00

Swara’s mother is Professor Ira Bhaskar. She's worried.

26:16

PROF. IRA BHASKAR, Jawaharlal Nehru University: You must feel it really, very personally also, no?

SWARA BHASKER, actor: Yeah. Like everyone's so scared now. And like everything is like, it's like you're walking on like landmines, all the time.

26:21

Delhi street GVs, cinema exterior

Music

26:35

Crowd gathers for entry to cinema

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: In Delhi, families have gathered at one of the city’s oldest cinemas. Finally, it’s the opening weekend of Adipurush, the controversial Hindu-themed film, that just weeks ago was facing a government ban.

26:47

Avani to camera on street

Since the movie came out, a BJP spokesperson has called on the board to censor it for hurting religious sentiments and just a few days later, the film’s creators have decided to change its dialogue. So I've come here to actually watch this movie.

27:12

Film screening

27:26

The controversy has hit the box office, with ticket sales plummeting. Despite the recut, the director and writer have been under police protection after getting death threats.

27:35

Music

27:47

Delhi GVs

28:04

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: The Modi government minister in charge of film and streaming is Anurag Thakur. His office didn’t respond to our questions about accusations the BJP has been targeting the industry and using it for propaganda. In the past he’s said if anyone has complaints, they can reach out to the ministry.

28:14

Avani removes shoes and socks and walks

Music

28:36

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: Indians of all religions will vote in a national election next year, that will determine whether prime minister Modi leads for a third term. There are several movies slated in the run up to the vote which promote the BJP line.

SWARA BHASKER, actor: I see Bollywood as becoming

Swara interview

more and more a tool of propaganda as the years go on. Because no other government has understood the soft power of Bollywood like the Modi government has. And no government has used Bollywood like this.

29:04

Avani at temple

AVANI DIAS, Reporter: As India's biggest cultural export, Bollywood tells this country’s stories to its people, and the rest of the world. India is rapidly changing.

29:19

Cinema screening

Nations like Australia now see it as a close friend. But there are major fears in that this democratic secular country under prime minister Modi, only one story will be told.

29:32

Music

29:47

Credits [see below]

29:52

Outpoint

30:21