The Tossed Salad

As they stand on the border, we sleep. As they stand up and defend, we look away. As they unite, we fall apart and as they protect, we attack. We are the ones responsible.

Sitting in this square room, I am to write upon the justice that movie makers shed on the war of freedom: definitely a debatable topic. When at war with other countries, while other countries stand against us, we, in an attempt to justify ourselves, make war movies.

Paying tribute to the heroes that were and the heroes that still are out there, fighting to protect us; a zillion movies have been made. Indian cinema has somehow always focused on individual stories within a backdrop of the defending lines. In Lakshya, it was about Karan Shergill trying to find himself, LOC Kargil, was about a group of men, with and around many problems, trying to figure out life and trying to be the men Mother India would want them to be. Border talked of the emotions of soldiers. However, from observation it can be said that they hardly make one feel patriotic. Contrasting the same are movies like Rang De Basanti, which instead infuse us with patriotism and enrage us.

As is in all movies, the true expression here too comes through songs and powerful dialogues. For Border, it is Ghar Kab Aaoyege (When Will You Come Back Home?), while for Lakshya, it is about finding oneself and answering that important question Mein Aisa Kyun Hun?(Why Am I Like This?). But somehow, these songs and their lyrics get lost somewhere and live only through the compositions rather than in the truth of what they wanted to project and what they wanted the world to see.

Individually and as a whole album, these songs have very little to do with the entire theme of patriotism and of paying homage and respect to the dead and the alive respectively. Yet they manage to unite us over and above the boundary lines. These songs, as is in most Hindi feature films, were just mediums of hope for the characters in their struggle to find themselves.

These 3 movies in particular haven’t gone down in the history of Indian Cinema.  Neither have their box office collections been impressive, nor considered impactful. These movies repeatedly throw the same things in your face: corruption, sentiments, and more of the “India was right” attitude. The music in itself fails to build up on the fear of the ranks. It also fails to capture the true essence of each soldier. More focus is paid on the building up of drama, again through the use of songs, than on the duty that each soldier must fulfill.

There is a lot more to depict, and a lot to talk about. A lot more that needs respect.

Their families shed tears because they sacrifice their lives for us. They deserve to live on respectfully.  The least we can do is make sure they do, even if it is by way of movies.

Akanksha Arya

Author: Akanksha Arya
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