Bollywood’s new Bharat Kumar

Aradhika  Sharma

The moment I entered her room with my morning cuppa, I knew that mother had an agenda. She slipped the spectacles down her nose, looking at me over the rims, watching me as I settled down with my newspaper. 

“It says here that Akshay Kumar got major public monuments across the country turned golden as a promo for his film, Gold.”

“I’m surprised that the state governments sanctioned that,” I replied. The headlines beckoned invitingly, begging me to devour them.

“People and governments love visible symbols of patriotism,” mother responded. “If you’re patriotic, show it, shout it, sing it — the louder, the better!”

“Hmm”. I rustled the paper trying to communicate that I should be allowed to update myself with matters such as floods, rapes, lynchings and rising prices designed to create a cheery morning. I was unsuccessful.

“Vaise, this Akshay is doing lots of patriotic films, nahin?” Obviously, my mother had completed her tryst with the news. Consequently, mine was fated to be a truncated newspaper-reading session. Sighing, I cast aside the unfortunate sheet.

“Yes, I think he’s supporting films that attempt to bring about reforms in society. Good for him! He’s got a National Award in the bargain!”

“Humph! He got a National Award for his performance in Rustom and even you must admit that his films aren’t shrill and jingoistic. Holiday, Baby and Airlift had interesting storylines and were patriotic too. What’s wrong with that?” she demanded.

“You must admit, mother, that he chooses rather unappetising names for his films. Who would be inspired to line up in front of the box office for movies with titles like Padman and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha? But, he is certainly using the power of the silver screen to spread important messages of social change. The movies weren’t bad after all.” 

“I think that he’s positioning himself as the new Mr. Bharat. That slot has been vacant for quite a while in Bollywood,” mother remarked.

“Oh! You mean, like Manoj Kumar? I laughed. “Why would anyone aspire for that position?”

“Arre, Manoj Kumar started by doing light, romantic movies. Akshay Kumar did some action, comedy and romantic movies. They’ve followed identical paths and Akshay has now metamorphosed into Manoj ‘Bharat’ Kumar.”

“When was poor Manoj Kumar ever an action hero, mom?” I laughed. 

“That,” she declared, “is totally beside the point! Manoj Kumar was first a romantic hero and then he turned patriotic and made Upkar, Purab aur Paschim, Roti Kapda aur Makaan and Kranti. He fought against the British and raised his voice for the poor farmers and spoke against social evils. Same as Akshay.”

“I guess!” I responded in a cowardly way, looking longingly towards the deserted paper. 

“What’s there to ‘guess’? There are tremendous similarities. Only the settings are different.”

“I guess you know best”. Seeing that she was exulting in her victory, I lunged at the paper and retreated behind it.

“Anyway, I was thinking….”

Here it came! Didn’t I say she had an agenda?

“Let’s go and watch Gold on Sunday.”

Why didn’t she just say so in the first place? 

Mera ‘Bharat’ Mahan!