I wanted to simply write a movie review on a movie that I
was able to catch at a local cinema. Before
I saw the movie, I had already seen the buzz that was building up for the
movie. I wanted all of my family to go see
the movie, but I wasn’t able to get them interested in the movie. The movie is historically based but like any
movie based on history or historical character, it has elements that are dramatized
for an impact. The movie’s title is “Tanhaji
– the Unsung Warrior”. Long before the
movie was released, the producers of the movie had released a poster announcing
the title and star cast for the venture.
Looking at the poster, I was hoping the movie would be very similar to
the Amar Chitra Katha Comic book I had read as a child on this great warrior. The movie is not a live version of the comic
book but it highlights many of the same things about a great leader
and a great warrior. The warrior whose
stories are retold and are immortalized by many in Maharashtra. I won’t get into who Tanhaji Malasure was, but the movie rightfully depicted how courageous this leader must have been to inspire people at
the time and how he continues to inspire many still.
Since I saw this movie a week ago, things have happened, events
wise, and I wanted to reflect on why the movie has connected with the masses in India and Indians living abroad. I don’t mean it has connected with the recalcitrant
types – those types are brainwashed by certain ideology and are beyond any kind
of mental repair. When the movie
came out on January 10th, 2020, in India, a CAA (Citizen Amendment
Act) had already been passed. CAA, very
briefly, is an act that will give dignity that is denied to religious minorities in Islamic nations bordering India. Who
are the religious minorities- they are Hindus, Sikhs, Parsi (Zoroastrians), Jains,
Buddhists, and Christians. In Islamic Nation of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, these people
are not allowed a dignity that is granted to other human beings (read Muslims). I am writing this on MLK’s day in America. I
am fully aware that I am living here in dignity due to the Civil rights
MLK fought for his fellow African Americans.
African Americans, who suffered slavery and then indignity of second-class
citizenship in the country they helped build.
As an immigrant to this great country, I am thankful and always grateful
to this nation and to its people – Black, white, and any other kind. MLK showed people a way to fight for their
dignity. This happened in a nation that, overall, has strong puritan work ethics and with all its flaws is willing to move
forward for the betterment of the nation.
To remember MLK’s sacrifice, the African Americans make a march in every
city to a state capitol building or city hall.
A way to commemorate their struggle and homage to their leader. I wish Hindus can learn some lessons from the way people who have collectively suffered indignity come together to remind everyone of their struggles.
Getting back to CAA, the act is to grant these persecuted
humans (kaffirs) in Islamic nations a refuge in India.
India is not a perfect country and the society in general still has many
issues that it needs to resolve and fix.
CAA was a positive act done by the government in power. Instead of all lauding the effort, the recalcitrant
types (Lefties, Islamists, and HINOs) have started protests against it. Now the
common thread among these types (recalcitrant) is that they don’t want assertive
Hindus for different reasons. For
Islamists, who are always playing victims even when they are the aggressive ones and intolerant
ones, Kaffirs need to be dhimmis. For
Lefties, any other ideology that is not left needs to be wiped out. So Hindutuva is an ideology that they find as a threat to themselves and their ideas. Since majority is not so allergic to the term or ideology of Hindutva, the left goes into fit of rage. You can see this in their use of hindu symbol to associate with hateful ideologies of Nazis. Lefties
have done this in other nations, the lefties believe in violence or any other
means to get themselves in power. Lefties will side with any other subversive idea that can overthrow the majority and hence their bonding with Islamists and Evangelicals. HINO types, they suffer from inferiority
complex and are opportunists to the max.
HINO types have existed in India for ages – Jaichand, Udhaibhan, and
Mann Singh and many more examples exist throughout Indian history.
So, what does all this above about CAA has to do with the
movie? The movie, in a way, shows the struggle that continue to exist among the
people of India and their continue fight to exist with their own ethos and
myths. How the outside influence insists
on destroying the culture with help of forces with in. The movie starts with explaining the resistance
that took place under the brutal bigot who was ruling India at the time –
Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb wanted to make
India Islamic from north to south. He was
one of the most brutal rulers in India.
In the north, Guru Gobind Singh started Khalsa panth to fight against
his brutality. In South, Chhatrapati Shivaji rose to fight for the dignity of
many non-Muslims and fought for self-rule.
Tanhaji was one of the most trusted warriors of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The movie is only couple hour in length. The story moves fast, the visuals are beautiful,
the costumes and set design gets you transported to the era. I will like to give credit to the producer,
the director, and everyone who is involved in making this spectacular piece of
cinema. I also loved the actor who portrayed Chatrapati Shivaji. For me, the movie had all the
elements to keep the story moving and audience interested. The movie also, in a way a requirement due to
continuing appeasement of Muslim sentiment, tried to make some Muslims come across
as fair beings. Not a problem really but
that appeasement still didn’t satisfy many Muslims as you can see from the criticism
the movie has received from the likes of Kabir Khan, Saif Ali Khan (post release), and others. Once again, the Muslims
have taken offense to what is shown as defiance to Islam's jihad against kaffirs and what is presented on the screen – though historically
based. HINO and Lefties also have called
the movie hyper nationalistic and steeped in divisive politics. Does the movie promote anti Islam bigotry by
showing the fight between Marathas and Islamic invader/ruler? The fact is that
Islam itself is a divisive ideology that divides humanity into Momins and
Kaffirs. Kaffirs are to be treated worse
than human’s treatment of animals. It is
a fact that Islamic rule of India is one of the most brutal rule in the history
of this world. However, the horrors of
Islamic terror and its rule in India has been whitewashed by HINO, Lefties, and
Islamists themselves. This movie was
unflinching in its portrayal of tyrants (Islamic zealots) and brave Marathas
who fought them for their own dignity and self-rule (savrajya – though the term is
not just self-rule).
The criticism of the movie by pseudo liberal professional critics is not based on the merits of the
movie itself, but the criticism is what the lefty critics feel is the message this
movie is trying to spread – woke Hindus.
The movie has symbolism and overt representation of Hinduism – in songs,
imagery, and the colors. Saffron color is
mentioned in dialogue several times – its identification with Indic dharmas is
very strong. Implying that Saffron is being suppressed and it needs to be
proudly worn to show defiance and resist foreign invaders. This has been read by the critics mentioned
earlier as a call to stand up as untied Hindus against Muslims. Again, lots of symbolism is in the eyes of
beholder. If the history was taught honestly
in India, these types of movies will probably not be made. The reason the movie has struck a chord with
Indian audience is because it is a history they know exist but has been suppressed. The pent-up demand or yearning for learning
the real history has made this super block buster. This will continue to happen in near
future. The demand is from the silent
majority to hear the stories we have heard but never seen them projected in the cinema
due to the control of the medium by lefties – that is true with history
also. The narrative of who were were and what were our struggles has long been under the control
of leftists and closet Islamist. Some of
them lay exposed now as the majority is tuning more inwards to their myths and
their history. Also, the money earned by this movie also shows that audience exists - an audience that yearns to see the stories of their great heroes to be told on the big screen. Devgan has made it known that he wants to make several movies on the heroes we might have forgotten. I hope to see more in future. This movie, I enjoyed all aspects of
the movie. The visuals were impactful,
the writing was crisp, and pace was perfect.
I recommend the movie and welcome other to share their views on the
movie.
P.S: This is off topic but part of the same issue. Yesterday was January 19th. This date is important but alas is not covered as such in India or internationally. On January 19th, 1990 (30 years ago) Hindus living in Kashmir valley in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir were forced out of their homes and were forced to leave the valley and move as refugee to other parts of India. To commemorate this date, in Sacramento, few people along with HAF organized a vigil on the steps of State Capitol. At the vigil, some of the survivors were asked to tell their personal tragedies as it related to their forced exodus from their birthplace and homes. As I heard these stories, reminded me of the stories that my grand parents had told me from different era. They were forced to leave their ancestral land during the 1947 partition of India. Again, the reason was the same, they happened to be Hindus in Muslim majority area. The treatment was meted the same to them that was faced by Kashmiri Hindus. The choices were given to non-Muslims – convert, leave, or be killed. The reason was the same, yet the reason is never called out -what happened in both cases was Islamic bigotry. The sad fact is that most of the people in India, who happen to be Muslims, are converts. Yet they have decided to see their ethnically same brethren as kaffirs. The religion has taught them to hate their own kind. I was also saddened to see how many people didn’t show up for the vigil. These people’s ordeal needs to be highlighted and supported. At the vigil, there were only 30 people maximum. I hope that next year, if the vigil is held again, more people show up. Islam’s followers continue to play victims and yet they never shown an iota of sympathy for the victims of Islamic aggression. There is always an excuse – fringes did that but the religion itself is religion of peace. Take it from this kaffir, the truth is far different. I been called a bigot for calling this out. My stance remains the same – Islam is an ideology that is open to criticism. I don’t blame the people as much as I blame the ideology. Can we Kaffirs and Hindus unite and openly expose this hate masquerading as a religion of peace.
