MovieChat Forums > Zameen (2003) Discussion > An unknown classic

An unknown classic

posted 15 years ago by ashwin9900
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It surprises me that this movie is rated as only 5.9. Plus - what's with absolutely no fan base for this movie. I, and my mother (who normally hates action movies) both found this movie to be one of the best hindi movies we have seen. Sure, the patriotic element helps to give the movie an edge, but it is never overdone as it so often is in bollywood flicks. Ajay Devgan, whom I normally think little of, gave an extraordinary performance. This is also one of Abhishek's first well-acted movies (let's face it, pre-Dhoom Abhishek sucked as an actor).

Am I (and perhaps my family) the only ones who truly like this movie? Or are others out there??

[–] User-Unknown 13 years ago

Perhaps it's because this is yet another nationalistic film coming out of the Indian film industry that has led to not only a low rating but also a low recognition. No nationalistic ("patriotic") film from Bollywood is complete without the clear "us versus them" distinction and an anti-Pakistan/anti-Pakistani theme. This has been done time and time again, masked as patriotism but blatantly discriminatory.

The Indian diaspora (making up the targeted audience, and a good chunk of Bollywood's profits) don't buy into these films anymore, with the token Hindu or Sikh main characters fighting "evil" Pakistani Muslims (with of course the usual government involvement), or "evil" Indian Muslims who are "sympathetic" to Pakistan (way to sell some seats to the BJP for the next election). Not even the Muslims in this film are portrayed by Muslims, or Pakistanis (of any religion) for that matter. When will Bollywood learn that we as Desis (Hindustanis of all 'nationalities') have, for the most part, moved past this?