Colloquium on propaganda through cinema

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BHUBANESWAR: The recent spree of propaganda movies that have hit the silver screen may mark the beginning of politicisation of movies. In the ongoing Indian Film Festival of Bhubaneswar, a session on “Fascinating Fascism: Cinema as Propaganda” was organised where experts spoke and discussed on the usage of cinema for achieving political ends.

Abhishek Parija, member, IFFB, held the session where he talked about bourgeois and non-bourgeois cinema comparing Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List and Alain Resnais’ Night and Fog. Later, in the discussion he talked of the hypernationalist wave in contemporary Hindi cinema which is hitting the cinema industry.

“Some of the examples of such movies are Uri: The Surgical Strike, Accidental Prime Minister and Thackeray. These movies have created templates of cinema which can work in the current political climate. Regional film industries have also picked up the template and making similar films. Examples are Nimki and Biju Babu,” said Parija.

India witnesses elections for Parliament and several state Assemblies this year. Odisha is also set for both the polls in a few months from now. Each political party, including those in the state, is trying its best to woo voters with several schemes and declarations ahead of the election.

Bollywood filmmakers are seeking to cash in on this year’s Indian general election with a host of political movies, some of which smell of propaganda according to critics.