The self-acclaimed champions and protectors of freedom of speech and expression, both inside and outside the film industry, seem rattled by the upcoming biopic on the life of the popular leader, Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. The entire liberal brigade which has assumed exclusively for itself an unrestricted right to free speech and expression seems particularly disturbed after the release of the trailer of the movie. It seems that the left liberal fraternity within the film industry cannot digest the fact that a movie with such nationalist and pro-Hindu tones can be released in times when Hinduphobic and anti-India movies rule the roost.
The latest addition to those who have been criticising the upcoming movie after the release of its trailer is Nawazuddin Siddiqui ‘s co-star in Gangs of Wasseypur, Richa Chadha. Taking a dig at him for this role on her Twitter handle, she used his screen name Faisal from the movie Gangs of Wasseypur, and said, “अरे ई हमरा फैजल तो बाईपोलर निकला बे !” (Oh my Faizal turned out to be bipolar).
https://twitter.com/RichaChadha/status/1078231271027892225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-164154792963260637.ampproject.net%2F1812131718380%2Fframe.html
This seems like an attempt to desert those artists and actors who tend to play a part in movies that have a storyline other than the one which the leftist elements in the Bollywood and the film industry believe in.
It is not for the first time that someone from the industry has tried taking a jibe at this upcoming movie starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Before this, Tamil actor Siddharth had also come out criticizing the trailer alleging that some of the dialogues in the Marathi trailer were anti-South Indians. In one of his tweets, he took a dig at Nawazuddin Siddiqui and said, “Poetic justice is when a Muslim actor from UP gets to play the part of the revered Marathi bigot in a propaganda film.” In another tweet, he said, “The conveniently un-subtitled #Marathi trailer of #Thackeray. So much hate sold with such romance and heroism (Music, tiger roars, applause, jingoism). No solidarity shown to millions of South Indians and immigrants who make #Mumbai great.”
It is clear that the left-liberal cabal is saddened and disheartened at how a movie can be made on the life of one of those leaders whom they loved to hate with all their might. Balasaheb Thackrey was a staunch believer in nationalism and a fierce critic of communism. Thackeray was a believer in the policy of ‘tit for tat’, which attracted followers and critics alike. Thackeray was not someone who would mince his words. The legendary leader was known for his outspoken attitude and straightforward nature. This is primarily the reason why his critics and those ideologically opposed to him still indulge in active propaganda against him.
In a time, when excessive minority appeasement is considered by many opportunists in Bollywood as a solution to India’s problems, Thackeray has thrown appeasement to the winds, being completely unapologetic in its approach. This in a way also draws a parallel with the life of the leader who had taken on those indulging in minority appeasement and anti-Hindu propaganda in a big way. Now that the Bollywood is full of Hinduphobic propaganda, ‘Thackrey’ seems to be changing the general pattern.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui is undoubtedly the star of this movie and this is the reason why the pretentious protectors of free speech within the film industry are now targeting him. We can expect more of this in the coming days. The liberal brigade has been hit badly and the self-acclaimed champions of free speech are known to go out of the way when they feel that their monopoly on free speech and narrative building has been challenged. This movie challenges the tradition of a particular ideology being promoted openly and thus it has and will continue to face a lot of unreasonable opposition.