No one's ever approached me to make an agenda film, says S S Rajamouli
New Delhi, Feb 17: Filmmaker S S Rajamouli's "Baahubali" films and "RRR" have been blockbuster hits, but the director, who has often been accused of pandering to the majoritarian view, says he distances himself from "either Hindu or pseudo-liberal propaganda".
In an interview with the US publication The New Yorker, the filmmaker took on questions related to the politics of his film, which is nominated in the best song category at the Oscars 2023 for "Naatu Naatu".
He was asked whether there was any political pressure on him to tell certain kind of stories from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
"No, never directly, never. No one's ever approached me to make an agenda film, whatever the agenda is. Still, for a long time, less prominent people sometimes found objections to my films. Sometimes Muslims have had objections, sometimes Hindus, sometimes different castes," the director told the publication.
The Telugu filmmaker said his agenda is to provide "entertainment" to the audience coming to theatres, irrespective of what their ideology may be.
"I distance myself from either Hindu or pseudo-liberal propaganda. I know there are audience members from those extreme groups in my audience. I know that, but I'm not catering to them. I'm just catering to the emotional needs of the audience," Rajamouli said.
Released in March 2022, "RRR" is a pre-Independence fictional story focusing on two real-life Indian revolutionaries in the 1920s -- Alluri Sitarama Raju (portrayed by Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (played by Jr NTR). It also featured Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn in pivotal roles.
Rajamouli also responded to the criticism that his films are nationalistic in nature and distort history.
"First of all, everyone knows the 'Baahubali' movies are fictional, so there is nothing for me to say about whether it is a distortion of history to portray historic characters to suit the present BJP's agenda. As for 'RRR', this is not a documentary. This is not a historical lesson.
"It's a fictional take on characters, which has been done many times in the past. We also just talked about (film) 'Mayabazar'. If 'RRR' is a distortion of history, 'Mayabazar' is a distortion of the historic epic," he added.
The director said those who have accused him of supporting BJP or the party's agenda in his cinema forget that a BJP leader had threatened him for showing Jr NTR's Bheem in a skullcap.
"So people can decide for themselves whether I'm a BJP person or not... I hate extremism, whether it is the BJP, Muslim League, or whatever. I hate extreme people in any section of society. That is the simplest explanation that I can give," he added.
On the allegations that he deliberately omitted Mahatma Gandhi's picture in "Etthara Jenda", the final song of the movie, Rajamouli said he was tired of answering that question.
"There are numerous freedom fighters who laid down their lives to attain liberty for our country. I have heard many stories about these freedom fighters from childhood onward. Whichever stories touched me, made me cry, or made my heart swell with pride, those are the historic figures that I chose for that scene," he said, adding that there was room for only eight photos in that song.
"Still, I respect all of the revolutionaries that I chose, and, if I didn't put Gandhiji's portrait there, it doesn't mean I disrespect him. I have huge respect for Gandhiji, no doubt about that," he said.
On a question about whether there was a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in India, the director said he does not think in those terms.
"I don't know. I don't think in those terms. I always feel like films reflect the society that created them, whatever that society's feelings are. Films reflect the pace of society because filmmakers have to cater to audiences. They'll see what audiences like, what their present mood is, and make films for that.
"If there is a rise in that kind of sentiment in society, those kinds of films will come out. But I always stay away from that. I go a completely different route," he added.
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Cong leader Prithviraj Chavan defiant after facing verbal missiles on Op Sindoor remarks
Mumbai (PTI): Despite facing criticism, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday stood by his controversial comments that India faced a "total defeat" in aerial fight with Pakistan on the first day of Operation Sindoor on May 7.
The former Union minister refused to apologise for his comments on the Indian military operation against terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK in aftermath of massacre of tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in April.
Talking to reporters in Pune on Tuesday, Chavan claimed India faced a "total defeat in the aerial fight (with Pakistan) on May 7 which lasted for half-an-hour".
"One may believe this or not. After that the Indian Air Force got grounded and not a single aircraft took flight that day.... be it Gwalior, Bhatinda or Sirsa, there was a possibility of aircraft being shot down, so our complete Air Force was grounded," the former Maharashtra chief minister had said.
Hitting out at Chavan, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused the Congress of speaking the language of Pakistan. He said questioning the military action was akin to demoralising the morale of armed forces.
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"The criticism does not stem from the love of the nation, but love for Pakistan," said the chief leader of the Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the BJP-led NDA.
Chavan, however, remained defiant.
"There is no question of apologising. The Constitution has given me the right to ask questions," the Congress veteran asserted.
Chavan also questioned the need of having a 12-lakh strong Army when future wars will be about aerial combats and missiles. "During Operation Sindoor we saw that there was no movement of the Army even for a kilometre," he had said.
BJP Lok Sabha MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra said Chavan's remarks are loaded with sedition.
"He (Chavan) has refused to apologise. The Indian armed forces struck 100 kms inside the Pakistan territory and destroyed 11 air strips (of the Pakistani Air Force). He made remarks that the Indian Army did not even move an inch (during the military operation). This is nothing but a statement full of sedition, a statement of a traitor," Patra said, lashing out at the Congress leader.
The BJP spokesperson maintained the Congress appears to be standing with Chavan and alleged the Opposition party is playing into foreign hands.
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should apologise for it, he added.
Union minister Giriraj Singh of the BJP insisted it was not right to devalue the valour of Indian armed forces.
Samajwadi Party MP Virendra Singh suggested that wherever armed forces are concerned, every Indian should be mindful of statements they make and ensure their comments do not demoralise the military.
Operation Sindoor was a result of "mistakes of politicians", he claimed.
TDP MP Krishna Devraylu said after the poll defeat in Bihar, the Congress is rattled and their leaders have been talking absurdly.
"Chavan's remarks are a prime example of this. This kind of disrespect to our armed forces is not necessary. If the Congress is angry with the NDA, it should show it in a different way and not drag armed forces into it," Devraylu opined.
AAP MP Ashok Mittal said such statements should not be made by any senior politician, especially by someone who has been a former chief minister.
The Indian armed forces registered a strong victory and destroyed terror launchpads in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Mittal added.
