Bollywood faces criticism over growing anti-Muslim stereotypes

Representatives of India's film industry are raising concerns that growing Islamophobia in Indian society is increasingly being reflected in Hindi cinema.

Among them is filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia, who spoke earlier this month at the Editors Guild of India's Rajendra Mathur Memorial Lecture, as reported in an article by the Indian news outlet for Muslims, Millii Gazette.

Dhulia said filmmakers are part of the same society in which anti-Muslim propaganda has grown like a cancerous growth, arguing that changes in the country's social and political climate have influenced the stories being told on screen.

He added that while Bollywood has a reputation for diversity, it is also affected by anti-Muslim prejudices, with Muslim characters frequently portrayed as antagonists, terrorists or outsiders.

The article argues that popular cinema can provide an indication of the social environment of a country. It identifies four broad themes in Bollywood films: Muslims portrayed as terrorists linked to militancy, cross-border terrorism or radicalization; patriotic films built around anti-Pakistan caricatures; historical epics and period dramas in which Muslim rulers are demonized and local resistance is glorified; and films that do not fall into these categories.

According to the article, anti-Muslim narratives in Bollywood began changing after the 1990s amid a series of political, economic and geopolitical developments, including the breakup of the Soviet Union, India's economic liberalization, the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir. These developments contributed to framing Muslim identity primarily through the lens of an antagonist.

After the BJP came to power in 2014, broader societal polarization and majoritarian political discourse increasingly entered mainstream Hindi cinema, according to the article. Muslim characters were increasingly associated with terrorism, anti-national activity and threats to the nation.

The article further argues that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, Bollywood has seen an increase in big-budget films featuring anti-Muslim and anti-Islam narratives.

It says mainstream films have increasingly portrayed Muslims as linked to cross-border terrorism, radicalization or militant groups, while Indian Muslims are frequently depicted as anti-national or as plotting against the country.

The article also points to narratives involving forced conversions and so-called "love jihad," arguing that such themes have been used by right-wing groups to justify the vilification and physical attacks of Indian Muslims.

It further claims that politically charged films receiving tax exemptions from the government have given what the article describes as official legitimacy to historical falsehoods and conspiracy theories, turning cinema into a tool for political purposes.

According to the article, negative portrayals of Muslims on screen can also contribute to social distancing between Hindu and Muslim communities.

A next useful step would be to add the specific films and examples the article is referring to, if you have the source text, while keeping each claim clearly attributed.

By Nazrin Sadigova