Bollywood boasts many acting legends, and Naseeruddin Shah is undoubtedly one of them. Known for his outstanding performances, Shah has become a celebrated figure in the industry, showcasing his talent through a wide range of diverse and memorable characters. His contributions have left an enduring impact on Indian cinema, earning him widespread recognition and admiration.
Naseeruddin Shah, who is widely recognized for his remarkable potential and talent, expressed his concerns about many recent Indian films such as Gadar 2, Kashmir Files, and The Kerala Story, labeling them as “regressive,” “jingoistic,” and ” very harmful.”
“It’s a Dangerous Trend”: Naseeruddin Shah on The Kerala Story & Gadar 2 success
While talking about The Kerala Story or Gadar 2, Naseerudin said, “In fact, films like Kerala Story and Gadar 2, I haven’t seen them but I know what they are about, it’s disturbing that films like Kashmir Files are so massively popular whereas films made by Sudhir Mishra, Anubhav Sinha, and Hansal Mehta, who are trying to portray the truth of their times don’t get seen. But it’s important that these filmmakers don’t lose heart and continue telling stories.”
Wrapping up his thoughts, Naseeruddin Shah conveyed, “Regressive is a pretty mild word for what’s going on, it’s frightening where filmmakers are being coopted into making films which praise all the wrong things and run down other communities for no reason at all. It’s a dangerous trend.”
“Hypermasculinity in Indian Cinema”: Naseeruddin Shah
In one of his recent interviews, the esteemed actor criticized hypermasculine cinema, specifically mentioning SS Rajamouli’s Oscar-winning RRR and Allu Arjun’s Pushpa: The Rise – Part One. During an episode of the chat show “Be A Man Yaar,” Naseeruddin Shah discussed the audience’s fixation on hypermasculinity, referencing the success of movies like Kabir Singh.
He expressed , “Mardo ki insecurity badh rahi hai isiliye aur bhi zayda zor diya ja raha ha hypermasculinity ko. America me toh Marvel ki duniya chal rahi hai, sab superhero hai ( Men’s growing insecurity is fueling the emphasis on hypermasculinity. This trend is evident not just in India but also in America, as seen in the Marvel Universe).”
However, he added that in India, movies like A Wednesday are also being produced and finding success at the box office. He further mentioned, “The acceptance of smaller films, those made by Anurag (Kashyap), like Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi, Gulmohar will find its place. I’m pretty sure because I have great faith in younger generation” as they are far more evolved.
“RRR & Pushpa are unwatchable”: Naseeruddin Shah
Shah continued by expressing that besides the element of thrill, he can’t fathom any other reasons why people gravitate towards films featuring hypermasculinity, “maine RRR, Pushpa dekhne ki koshish ki, mujhse dekhi nahi gayi.
Maine Mani Ratnam ki film (PS 2) puri dekhi kyuki woh kabil filmmaker hai; unka koi agenda nahi hai. Mai imagine nahi kar pata, alawa thrill k ya aapke ke andar jo jasbaat jo chupe huye hai, unko feed karke kahi ek khushi ka ehsas hota hai dekhne ke baad jo aksar kayi din tak rehta hai. Main aise filmein kabhi dekhne na jaoon ( I refrained from watching RRR and Pushpa. However, I did view Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan, as he is a distinguished filmmaker without any hidden agenda. I find it hard to comprehend what people derive from watching those particular films, and personally, I have no intention of ever watching them).”
In a time when Indian cinema is veering towards prioritizing box office numbers over quality, Naseeruddin Shah’s statement has garnered a lot of attention. While Naseeruddin Shah has criticized films like ‘Gadar 2,’ ‘RRR,’ and ‘KGF 2,’ we are eager to hear his thoughts on Ranbir Kapoor’s recent controversial film, ‘Animal. What do you think about Naseerudin’s statements? Tell us in the comments below.
