Can propaganda be great art?, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The debate on whether propaganda can be considered art has resurfaced with the success of the Hindi film Dhurandhar.
• Asim Siddiqui defines propaganda as the selective use of facts and images to persuade people to accept a particular point of view.
• Sudhanva Deshpande emphasizes that propaganda is typically backed by organized forces and a broader ecosystem.
• Deshpande notes a concerted effort by forces of Hindutva to take control of the Hindi film industry.
• Siddiqui points out that films like The Kashmir Files receiving a National Award for national integration is ironic.
• Deshpande argues that true art questions the existing power structures, while propaganda reinforces them.

Detailed Insights:

• The Hindi film industry has seen a rise in films that propagate the Hindutva point of view, with support from both state and non-state actors.
• Despite the orchestration of support, many films promoting the Hindutva ideology do not achieve commercial success.
• The depiction of Muslims as negative characters or "enemies within" is not new and has been building up since the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
• The idea that present nationalist propaganda is a counter to the progressive cinema of the 1950s-1970s is a false equivalence, as progressive cinema did not promote hatred towards any community.
• There are concerns about the prevention of certain narratives from being made, such as the removal of caste names in a film on Jyotirao Phule.
• Filmmakers are sometimes compelled to include rage-baiting scenes to create social media storms and attract viewers.
• It is possible to appreciate the artistic qualities of a work of propaganda even while being skeptical of its message.
• Critical thinking allows us to re-evaluate old films and books, questioning our initial reactions and judgments.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Propaganda: Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
• Hindutva: An ideology seeking to define Indian culture in terms of Hindu values.
• Islamophobia: Dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims.