Fuck You Bheja Fry!!

I've started to realize that I turn to writing when I'm most sad, distraught, hurt or angry. Its my escape... it makes me feel better... it gives me hope that if I put it out there, I might be able to counter what put me in that uncomfortable position in the first place. And today I return broken hearted by a movie. Something that was to provide a funny relief for the lazy afternoon turned into indignation and anger.

DTH television allows you to order movies. For about 75 bucks, you can watch from a select bunch of movies that they have. So we (me and my mum) ordered Bheja Fry. A very funny movie we had been told and something we were looking forward to watch for a long time! It was quite funny also actually till about the interval. After that came the rude shock. There is a Muslim character in the movie, Asif Merchant (played by Ranvir Shorey), who is supposed to be a caricature... of Muslims I'm guessing. So this fellow is an honest, hard-working officer of the IT (Income Tax) department who is a good friend of Bharat Bhushan (Viney Pathak). He is talented and does his job well... the only glitch?? His loyalties lie towards Pakistan! Atleast 15 minutes of the reel are dedicated to how Bharat Bhushan is supporting India (in a cricket match) and how Asif is supporting Pakistan! Not only that, there are clever dialogues like, "Saala khata idhar ki hai aur gaata udhar ki hai!" (Asshole eats from this country but supports that country). The director stretches it on till the point that he makes it clear that Muslims, no matter how good they are, support Pakistan, while the rest of the Indians are great friends with them and treat them well!

Really?!?!?!

Now I don't dispute that there are muslims in India who make no bones about supporting the Pakistani team vis-a-vis India, but is that the absolute case? Does that mean all Muslims are like that? I mean if you are showing something like that then wouldn't it be better to make sure that it doesn't send the wrong message out? And I don't think I'm making a fuss about nothing. Let me tell you why....

For the past two months, I been constantly debating Far right-wing Hindus on Orkut on various communities. I've come to understand that there is a lot of pre-assumption and mis-information that fuels the hatred. Now one of the things they say frequently is that Indian Muslims are Pakistani hearted! This is a gross stereotype and generalization! I've had a torrent time making them understand that this isn't the case and that I HATE such people myself! (For such debates, I have to talk in terms of religion i.e. Hindu, Muslims etc. to make my points cause these people take religion and God to be the ultimate truth. I cannot even start to argue with them that there might not even be a God!) So imagine that if popular cinema starts re-enforcing this stereo-type then? Is that good for us? Everyone is influenced by the movies that they see on some level! And what was even more shocking was that this was a 'multiplex movie'! Made for a niche audience who are supposed to know better than this! But surprisingly, I never heard a peep about this blunder.

I don't say that don't make fun of Muslims, please by all means... It wouldn't be fair if you didn't but also don't forget your social responsibilities when reaching out to such a large number of people! Don't re-enforce urban myths (all Muslims are loyal to Pakistan) and stereotypes. I mean, Black Friday (an awesome movie) also showed the same thing in a scene (Muslim kids celebrating Pakistani team's victory with fire-crackers) but they didn't stereotype. They were careful in showing that even though that happens, it is not true for all Indian Muslims! People need to understand that the method employed to convey a message is as important as the message itself!

Because some of us take it to the heart and are sick of our loyalties being questioned with wondering eyes every time you hear our name! :'-(

No-surprises then that neither me nor mum enjoyed the movie after that khaata-gaata (above mentioned) dialogue. Nothing was funny after that... we were both saddened and hurt. After a little while the movie ended. Mum in her own thoughts (she tends to think a lot when something strikes her heart) and me in my own (DNA inheritance :-p), we both quietly got up and went to our rooms, trying to find a reason... some justification... to why some people can be so stupid at times.