Patriotism during Indian Cinema.

 For any self-respecting nation, patriotism of its citizens is its heart-beat. When it is there, not merely is the nation's continued existence across centuries and millennia guaranteed, but is progressive evolution is also ensured. It if is not there, the nation suffers decline, debility and eventual doom.

India is fondly called 'Bharati' by its people. The name harks back once again to its epic past, whose beginnings have defied determination. Hence, India evokes a sense of timelessness. Obviously, India has been changing perpetually from the time its hoary antiquity. It has additionally suffered such vicissitudes of history as have pushed various other ancient nations and civilizations into extinction. How then has India faced every one of these internal changes and external assaults, and yet managed to remain alive as an energetic and ascendant nation in the 21st century? The clear answer is: Patriotism - the normal emotion and self-awareness that unites our people regardless of the unmatched diversity they exhibit.

Being an art form that strikes the chords of both emotion and intellect, the ability of cinema is unmatched. Naturally, Indian cinema has contributed immensely to the cultivation of this uniting and uplifting feeling of nationalism. Patriotic films, as a particular and much-admired genre of Indian cinema, experienced a tremendous impact on our people, cutting across religious, regional, linguistic and economic identities. Moreover, they have also proved their unsurpassed power of communicating both to educated and illiterate masses.

For most Indians, cinema is the enduring source of the image of these nation as a vast and diverse land bound by the Himalayas in the north, surrounded by oceans on three sides, girdled by sacred rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna and Godavari, and blessed with captivating natural beauty and rich resources. For them it is also the principal source of knowledge about our national heroes, martyrs, the struggles and sacrifices of our forefathers, the work of our social reformers, the wars of the pre-and-post-Independence era, such as the recent and ongoing war against cross-border terrorism, and our achievements as a free and democratic nation.

Thus, few can contest Indian cinema's, particularly Hindi cinema's, unmatched contribution to strengthening the bonds of national integration, countering divisive feelings, educating the folks about our shared national history and, through all of this, re-enforcing inside them pride and love for the Motherland.

Ananya Bharati is just a documentary that encapsulates the spirit of patriotism that the Hindi film industry has captured on celluloid and nurtured in the hearts of Indians. Produced under the banner of my company, Swayam Infotainment, I thought the absolute most apt beginning to the documentary will be ace musician A.R. Rahman, bowing to the motherland together with his rendition of Maa Tujhe Salaam. This forms part of his album VANDE MATARAM produced by BharatBala Pictures. Ananya Bharati categorises Indian patriotic Indian patriotic films primarily into three categories. The initial category comprises films related to terrorism. The second, features films about martyrs of the freedom struggle and events connected to the partition of the united states and the 3rd category has war films that depict the India-Pakistan conflict.

Ananya Bharati also covers films on nation-building such as the recently released Swades. The documentary concludes with a psychological punch in the shape of a bouquet of patriotic songs which have captured the national imagination.

Patriotic Films - The Beginning

The Hindi film industry's adoption of patriotic themes happened at its very inception, when India was engaged in a unique struggle for freedom from the British colonial rule. The initial film which boldly ventured in this direction was Sohrab Modi's Sikandar. This 1941 film carried the message of patriotism indirectly by praising the valour of King Porus in his war against the invader, Alexander the Great. Other films of this era were Bandhan (1940) and Kismet (1943).

When freedom dawned on 15th August 1947, ending 200 years of alien rule, the Indian film industry was there to celebrate this historic transition. The air days past was filled up with the hopes and dreams of building a New India, most inspiringly articulated by our first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Bollywood captured this mood in films like Naya Daur (1957) and Hum Hindustani (1960). Anand Math (1952), Jaagriti (1954) and Leader (1964) focused on the freedom struggle and the sacrifices created by its martyrs. Some others like Sikander-E-Azam (1965) and Jis Desh Mein Ganga Beheti Hai (1960), through their songs, mentioned the greatness of India. Then there have been films that have been inspired by the violation of the country's barriers by its enemies. Three notable films made on the subject were Haqeeqat (1964), Prem Pujari (1970) and Lalkar (1972). Of the, Haqeeqat, which will be about the Chinese aggression in 1962, has left a lasting impact. Bade Achhe Lagte Hain Watch Online

Some recently made films on the subject:

Also set against the backdrop of the Partition is the 2003 film Pinjar, a cinematic adaptation of Amrita Pritam's famous novel of exactly the same name, by Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi. Incidentally, he'd made a very popular TV serial Chanakya, which chose an Indian hero of ancient times to transmit many contemporary messages. Showing the trauma of partition, the film powerfully conveyed that atrocity does not have any religion and sounded the warning that history must not be permitted to repeat itself.

The great revolutionaries of the freedom movement like Sardar Patel, Udham Singh and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar inspired many film make to produce films on them. Veer Savarkar's inspirational life was the topic of a video - Veer Savarkar by Ved Rahi in 2001.