Time was when Amitabh Bacchan used to stray clear of controversy. Time was when Amitabh Bacchan had sworn himself off the media, as he did not want his words to cause any trouble, intended or unintended. When he was considered the perfect elder statesman of the industry. When the rare occasions that he opened his mouth, the most profound and mature words were heard.
But then he got introduced to blogs! And all hell broke loose…
Blogs fascinated him. To the extent that he wanted to write regularly. Wanted to vent out his true feelings. For the world to see – and which it would, on account of his stature. And when you choose to blog that regularly and express yourself thus, it is not easy then, to stay clear off controversy.
So now, the erstwhile ‘elder statesman’ regularly finds himself with his foot in his mouth. And as fans, we are hurt. The way we are hurt, when our hero, Saurav Ganguly, struggles to fend off the bouncers of a johnny-come-lately new pace bowler, and we wince. Because we cannot see one who has given us so much entertainment to be embarrassed thus. And which is exactly what Amitabh is doing to us.
Over the years, he has consistently disliked calling the Hindi film industry, “Bollywood” as he does not appreciate that reference to Hollywood. “Why should it be that way?”, he always asked.
Fine. Makes sense. And I appreciate his stand, to that point.
But when he goes ahead and slams Slumdog Millionaire for showing India in poor light, and saying that the cities of the world have their own underbelly, I am staggered.
What’s the connection?
Are you saying, Sir, that Slumdog is a success because the western world wanted to see and pity the underbelly of India? Or does the film offer something beyond that?
So, if a James Bond movie shows a drug mafia in the USA, is that the reason for it’s success? Is the movie trying to say that drug mafia exists only in the US? Should someone point out, then, that it exists in most countries in the world?
Or when a Bunty aur Babli shows an American conned into buying the Taj Mahal, should Americans jump on it, and claim that people from any country can be conned, so why show an American only??
By reacting thus, Amitabh has shown a defensiveness, that is completely uncalled for! And taken a “story” that is dramatized, too literally, beyond its screen value. It’s like the Health Minister of India, wanting to ban smoking scenes from being shown in cinema. Man, you can’t get that literal! Amitabh is trying to likewise suggest that if a western film wants to show India, it should not be allowed to show it in such poor light?! WHAT?? WHY??
To make things worse, and to add fuel to fire, after the Oscars nominations are announced, and on being asked to comment on the Slumdog nominations, Amitabh chooses to brush them aside, as those being not so important?
An earlier pre-blogging-world Amitabh Bacchan might have given the politically correct reaction, to such a query, irrespective of his personal feelings about the Oscars, by saying, for example, that “he wishes the film all the luck” or something like that.
Blogging’s changed Amitabh. For good, it appears. Oh, wait a minute.. more like, “for bad..”!
On the other hand, are the views that he is now expressing, his ‘real views’, and is he really the person that he is now openly being viewed as?? If that is so, we are saddened by the real personality of Amitabh Bacchan. Where, after all the success that he has achieved, he still has the “grapes are sour” attitude! Grow up, Amitabh… there’ s still time!
Random Musings 