Here we were discussing about the way movies reflect the society in general.
Though i accept that movies do, to a great extent reflect our social values, they also have so much of masala in order to achieve saleability that the mirror seems to be tainted and the image gets distorted to certain extent. Specially hindi movies, which shows the lead actors (or heroes) to be so goody goody that it becomes unrealistic. We are taught that way. If you take up any of our epic, the lead roles’ acts are justified to an extent that it irritates. Whether be it the Ram forcing Seeta to take shelter in forest or Yudhisthir gambling his wife, along with brothers and kingdom, attempts are made to justify each of them. Similar approach is taken up in movies where every Hero’s approach is justified and corrected.
Though recently movies are being released where heroes are also been shown in grey colours but still, in a bigger picture, the balance in his character is at large.
However what reflects the society’s problem or pain area are the character of the villain.
The character of villains have evolved a lot over a period of time.
Initially it used to be mythological villains like demons, which were replaced by villains who would play the destroyers of peace in a village with a whole and sole aim of disturbing heroes and attempting to grab his love interest. The lady-catcher gave way to black marketeers and stockists in Manoj Kumar Movies, reflecting the food crisis in our country and justifying ‘Roti, Kapda aur Makaan’ slogan. The war sentiments in 71 got reflected in villians taking anti-national stand and trying to sell of national treasure, document or trying to occupy territory for anti-national activities.
Then came Ajit’s era, where Mona darling was second to Sona (gold), depicting the clutch of smugglers on our economy. Gold gave way to diamond for its sheer brilliance, size and portability. Whereas you needed a ship to smuggle gold in, diamond was being smuggled through heroes or heroines been forced to do that.
Diamond gave way to drugs as it started becoming carze for youths and issue for society in general. Drugs peddlers became part of the bigger picture that the villain used to draw with his prowess.
Pakistan became and remained a villian all along. Earlier though the name of the country was never spoken, lately the country name and its flag are being displayed without hesitation. War movies gave another reason to showthe neighbour country in bad shape and shade.
As the world started bracing itself with the modern day disorder and to fight against the evil of terrorism, hindi movies followed with full commitment with its lead character vowing to fight against terrorism. Especially if the lead actor is someone like Sunny Deol, he can take on the terrorist of whole of the world single-handedly and his dhai kila ka haath is good enough to counter anyone anywhere.
Hope to see Robots as the next set of villians very soon.
