Representation of Muslims in Bollywood

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Representation of Muslims in Bollywood Abstract The paper begins discussing how Muslims have been represented in Hindi cinema and how their roles have been shifting with time. For example, earlier they were portrayed as Nawabs and prostitutes then they were shown as terrorist and now they are being shown as modern Muslims in a number of recent films. Main purpose of this paper is to analyze the elements of agency, which the Hindu protagonist possesses over the Muslim, and stereotyping of positive and negative Muslim characters. The paper, however, will focus on the movies where Muslims are portrayed as terrorists. I have analyzed the shift of this Muslim-terrorist image from the extremely negative (as terrorists) to the neutral (close to positive) in movies like New York, Kurbaan, Dhoka, My Name is Khan and finally the positive image in the recent movies where Indians are also becoming pro-Pakistani such as Tiger, Total Siyapa, Veer Zara. The paper concludes it with the argument that Bollywood changes Muslims portrayal according to the global or Indo-Pak scenario, which effects people’s perception about Muslims and changes their global image.

Introduction Muslims are main target of stereotyping in the world. They are usually portrayed in negative a role, which has started a global movement against this racial treatment with them. Edward Said’s Orientalism is all about the stereotyping of Muslims by west. This stereotyping of Muslim is not a new phenomenon it has been going on since ages in western media through its TV shows, movies, cartoons and

other programs but the problem became severe after 9/11 attacks and came to limelight. This representation of Muslims in Media has affected the way people think about Muslims in general. Governments have used media, particularly cinema in propogating their own agenda about muslims to its people. Arab in westrn world (sharukh wala seminar c its name) is about how West used its media to create image of Muslim the way their government wanted its people to see Muslims as. Governments need peoples support and if they want to be friends or declare war with a nation they show their people convince them that certain nation is good or evil. Same is done with Muslims they were shown terrorist in media to make them terrorist in real life, so people remember them as terrorist. This strategy is also followed by India, the role of Muslims keep changing with according to their policies towards Pakistan, which is a Muslim state. In Indian Movies Pakistani stereotyping is synonym to Muslim stereotyping. Role of muslims/ Pakistanis keep changing in bollywood but in a whole generalized way it is negative and follows the same trend as west by showing muslims as terrorist, villain and given every possible negative role. However in recent times it is scene that there are some movies after the campaign of aman ki asha that movies are made which are pro Pakistani which proves external forces do work in creating the image of a nation through cinema. In case of India and Pakistan they both have a strong history together. Their political relationship keeps changing. There are mixed feeling of hatred and brotherhood at the same in among the people of both nation as they both had a past with joins them together.

I will use hypodermic needle theory as main theoretical framework to explain how a media representation creates perception of nation among he general people. Hypodermic Needle theory Brief summary of Muslims Representation in the world Brief History of Pakistan and Inida History of changing Muslim/Pakistani representation in Bolywood