MovieChat Forums > Lucky: No Time for Love (2005) Discussion > Racism in Bollywood movies

Racism in Bollywood movies

posted 17 years ago by Ezekiel-Cheever
9 replies | jump to latest

One issue that strikes me as odd in quite a few Bollywood movie is racism...

I don't know but I feel foreign characters in Bollywood movies are almost always portrayed extremely stereotypical and in a bad way

In Lucky, it's the mean Russian rapist
In Dil Chahta Hai, it's the thief in disguise of a beautiful Western woman
In Salaam Namaste, it's the always available two-bit floozie
In Dil Jo Bhi Kahey, it's the staunch racist...

Anyway...it just strikes me as odd. Any opinions?

[–] amethyst160 17 years ago

But in Hollywood movies...isn't it the same. Liquor store owners are Chinese, or Indian. Taxi drivers are always usually black or Punjabi. It is the same in every movie industy i say. Depending on who the industry is targeted for, they make the other people look likelosers in front of "their group of people".

"If you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it."-Jack Sparrow

[–] Ezekiel-Cheever 17 years ago

I am not saying that it does not happen in other movie industries but I think the degree is very different... In most movies or series, there is a certain balance (e.g. Grey's Anatomy), but in Indian movies I have noticed that it's close to one hundred per cent negative. And portraying a Punjabi taxi driver doesn't as such have to be negative if the person is presented in a nice or neutral way - but in this movie Russians are rapists and criminals only. The movie may be set in Russia but is there just one person portrayed in a slighly positive way?

And it's very hard to actually think of just one Hindi movie where it's different - currently I can think of only Rang de Basanti and The Namesake (though the latter is from a NRI director who is producing more for a foreign market anyway). I am very interested in Asian cinema (Japanese, Chinese, Korean) in general but from my perspective this phenomenom - to this extent - seems to be limited to Indian cinema.

[–] amethyst160 17 years ago

well, i mean, hollywood has a lot of stereotypes...and they never portray an Indian has a lead (except namesake and that other one kal penn was in). And i guess bollywood those too. I personally thing stereotypes and whatnot play a part in every movie industry. they are only a few movies that break those boundaries, or at least try to

"If you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it."-Jack Sparrow

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

Why even mention Hollywood? This is about Bollywood. And when do Bollywood movies ever have a Westerner or another foreigner as a lead or even a serious love interest? The racist stereotypes in Bollywood are much worse and the problem is that you never here anyone complaining about that and calling for changes. It's so hypocritical.

[–] Val-El 16 years ago

How about Pardes? - in that one every American is a criminal and a rapist.

[–] amethyst160 16 years ago

oh yeah...that was so stupid. As if India isn't known for raping and stealing stuff (like Mumbais New Years incident)I guess we all are racist...hollywood and Bollywood...it is sad but true!

"If you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it."-Jack Sparrow

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] anahita3740 15 years ago

This is Bollywood,,,an eastern Indian Industry,,,and don t forget that India cannot forget the time of colonism !

[–] Val-El 12 years ago

This is Bollywood,,,an eastern Indian Industry,,,and don t forget that India cannot forget the time of colonism !

Truly a silly comment...