On January 26, India is celebrating its 75th Republic Day. The country, which came into being on August 15, 1947, contains many stories that have shaped the emotional and psychological evolution of the people of the region.
Literature, performing arts and movies play an important role in shaping any society. While these arts set social attitudes, they also help to understand a particular society.
Indian film industry has succeeded in building a special reputation of the country. Bollywood has not only impressed the Asian region with its creations but has also made it a special place globally.
Whether it is a commercial, art or documentary or drama made in this country or in this region, it has many facets.
On the occasion of the Republic Day of India, let us take a look at the ten creations that highlighted many aspects of this country, especially in the Western world, which were still hidden from the public.
The Great Indian Kitchen (2012)
The Malayalam language film 'The Great Indian Kitchen' has made a splash across India. The story of this film revolves around a woman who wants to play the role of a traditional wife after marriage, which society has reserved for married women.
However, in this artificial environment, she begins to feel alienated and challenges the standards created at the societal level, which have been created in the Indian patriarchal system especially for women.
According to the film's director Joe Bobby, he has deliberately highlighted aspects of the film that are unpleasant for pro-patriarchal men to reconsider.
In India, these outdated attitudes towards gender discrimination have for centuries been considered an important part of the social fabric, which is in dire need of change.
Jay Bhim (2021)
Created in Tamil, Jai Bhim seeks to examine the ancient caste system through modern lenses. South Indian superstar Surya has played the lead role in this presentation of TJ Gyanuel.
The film successfully narrates the story of the Dalit community, which is considered a lower caste under the Hindu caste system, and the oppression that befell them.
According to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), moviegoers have hailed Jay Bhim as one of the best movies of all time, setting a new record for popularity.
The South Indian film industry in particular is trying to challenge the Hindu caste system, which has been ingrained in this society for centuries, but many quarters see it as a fistula.
Sardar Udham (2021)
Vicky Koshal has played the role of Udham Singh in this film about the life of Udham Singh, the revolutionary leader of India. Released on Amazon Prime, the film has been praised by critics.
In the 1910s, Udham Singh became a local hero against the British Raj. He was an eyewitness to the Jilanwala massacre in 1919.
The British army then opened fire on peaceful and unarmed protesters at the site in Amritsar, killing thousands.
Udham Singh had assassinated the then British Lieutenant Governor Michael O'Dwyer in Punjab during the independence movement. He was executed in 1933 for this crime.
However, Udham Singh is still seen as a hero in the Indian subcontinent, especially in the Punjab region.
India's Daughter (2015)
The documentary, India's Daughter, highlights the flaws in the social fabric of 21-year-old Narbhaya's gang-rape.
The woman was brutally murdered after being gang-raped in the capital, New Delhi, in December 2012.
The documentary by British filmmaker Leslie Udwin was banned in India. According to an Indian court, the interview of a convict included in the film was an insult to women. Convict Mukesh Singh had said that women are responsible for rape.
Masan (2015)
Masan is a love story of a girl named Devi, a resident of the northern Indian city of Varanasi (Banaras), who fights against caste and social restrictions.
Neeraj Ghawan's film also won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. The film challenges this important moral value of India, under which premarital sex is a heinous act.
Masan Devi is a love story of a girl who fights against caste and social restrictions
Inshallah Football (2010)
Inshallah Football is a documentary made for football fans. It tells the story of a young Kashmiri footballer who wants to go abroad and take part in football competitions but is not given a passport because his father is a member of the Kashmiri separatist militant group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
The documentary captures the life of this young baller and the plight of ordinary citizens in Kashmir.
The Story of India (2009)
The Story of India is a six-part series created by Michael Wood for the BBC and PPS.
In this series, the history of ten thousand years old civilization and culture of India has been presented in a wonderful way. It tells the story of the evolution of the Indus Valley Civilization and its decline, as well as of politics and society from ancient times to modern times.
Parzania (2007)
The film 'Parzania' covers some of the causes of the 2002 riots in the Indian state of Gujarat. The story revolves around a ten-year-old boy who is separated from his family as a result of the riots in Ahmedabad.
At least 2,000 people were killed in the Gujarat riots
The boy named Parzan is a Zoroastrian who lives in peace with his community but his life is ruined by the riots.
The film stars Naseeruddin Shah and Sarika in the lead roles. The film is based on true events and also criticizes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was then the Chief Minister of the state.
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Aamir Khan has played the lead role in the popular Bollywood film 'Rang De Basanti'. This presentation by Rakesh Om Prakash won the Best Film award at the Filmfare Awards.
The film, set out of the traditional Bollywood style, tells the story of five contemporary friends living in New Delhi who are troubled by the hardships of the colonial era.
Gandhi (1982)
Presented by Sir Richard Eaton Borough, Gandhi is an epic film, which highlights the political struggle of Mohandas Karamchand Das. In this film, Mahatma Gandhi's political efforts against the British Raj are well described.
According to critics, this is one of the best films ever made on Gandhi.
In this film, Gandhi was played by Ben Kingsley. The film eloquently describes Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence and highlights various aspects of his life.
