singhvivek141 Posted January 4 Posted January 4 Bollywood has long flirted with nationalism, but lately it feels less like storytelling and more like a forced injection of patriotism. The recent crop of films (Border2, Galwan, Ikkis) show how the industry is leaning on emotion and slogans rather than craft. Border 2 Except for Sunny Deol, who still carries the weight of his presence, the rest of the cast looks misplaced. The overuse of CGI makes the film look more like a video game cutscene than a war drama. The reimagined “Sandeshe Aate Hai” is pleasant, but Arijit Singh’s voice feels oddly mismatched (personal opinion), Sonu Nigam remains untouchable here, followed by Vishal Mishra and Diljit. The film banks heavily on emotional manipulation instead of technical filmmaking. I also feel that Sunny Paaji's role is just a cameo (like Jackie Shroff in Border), while major chunk of role is given to Varun, Diljit and Shetty Anna's son (don't know his name). Doesn't inspire the same emotions which Border 1 does till date. I may watch it for Sunny Deol but nothing else. Galwan The teaser is nothing short of embarrassing. Salman Khan’s expressions, meant to convey tension, end up looking unintentionally comedic. The slogans chanted in the background carry no weight, and the supporting actors’ faces resemble people battling constipation rather than soldiers in a crisis. If this is supposed to stir patriotic fervor, it fails spectacularly. Probably, I'll give this a skip. Ikkis This one hurts more because it’s Dharam paaji’s last outing. Instead of celebrating Arun Khetrapal’s heroic story, the film bends toward a strange narrative that paints the Indian Army as barbaric while softening Pakistan’s image. That distortion is not only historically inaccurate but also insulting. The crimes of the Pakistani Army are brushed aside, leaving viewers confused about whose side the film is on. These films highlight Bollywood’s obsession with wrapping nationalism in glossy packaging while ignoring nuance and truth. Instead of honoring real stories with dignity and technical finesse, the industry seems content with exaggerated CGI, misplaced casting, and hollow slogans. Forced nationalism doesn’t inspire, it alienates.
zen Posted January 4 Posted January 4 Bollywood is simply doing its business by leveraging on “trends”. Why not give the paying public what they want? Lord and BacktoCricaddict 1 1
kepler37b Posted January 4 Posted January 4 3 hours ago, singhvivek141 said: Bollywood has long flirted with nationalism, but lately it feels less like storytelling and more like a forced injection of patriotism. The recent crop of films (Border2, Galwan, Ikkis) show how the industry is leaning on emotion and slogans rather than craft. Galwan The teaser is nothing short of embarrassing. Salman Khan’s expressions, meant to convey tension, end up looking unintentionally comedic. The slogans chanted in the background carry no weight, and the supporting actors’ faces resemble people battling constipation rather than soldiers in a crisis. If this is supposed to stir patriotic fervor, it fails spectacularly. Probably, I'll give this a skip. May be selmon bhai wants to laugh at us saying: "bsdk, tu aaj bhi mera film dekh rahaa hain?" singhvivek141 1
singhvivek141 Posted January 6 Author Posted January 6 On 1/4/2026 at 4:13 PM, kepler37b said: May be selmon bhai wants to laugh at us saying: "bsdk, tu aaj bhi mera film dekh rahaa hain?" Its sad, but to be frank. I wished they picked up a better actor to play the role of brave Santhosh babu, and his jawans of Bihar regiment who died fighting alongside him. The expressions of jawans were just as pukeworthy as that smirk from Salman... Probably Jr. NTR should have picked up this movie for debut. Even Adivi Sesh who played an amazing role in Major was the right choice. If they wanted an relatively old actor/superstar...Ajay Devgn would have fitted the bill.
Gollum Posted January 6 Posted January 6 Salman didn't open his mouth during Sindoor, in fact was giving moral science lessons and begging for 'peace/ceasefire' when Indian army hit those terror camps. Most Bollywoodia A listers didn't even react after Galwan, hoping for China release of their wahiyat movies in the future. Hope opportunists are shunned by public. Dekhna hi hai toh pirate kar ke dekho. singhvivek141 1
IndianRenegade Posted January 6 Posted January 6 Border 2 is being releasing? It was one of my favourite movies from my childhood, used to take my brothers help to understand some of dialogues as all of Hindi knowledge was from watching other Bollywood movies. Anyways, the era of forced patriotism with lengthy dialogues bordering jingoism was long gone. Audience want realistic movies where patriotism is natural & not forced through dialogues & songs.
Lone Wolf Posted January 6 Posted January 6 (edited) 1 hour ago, Gollum said: Salman didn't open his mouth during Sindoor, in fact was giving moral science lessons and begging for 'peace/ceasefire' when Indian army hit those terror camps. Most Bollywoodia A listers didn't even react after Galwan, hoping for China release of their wahiyat movies in the future. Hope opportunists are shunned by public. Dekhna hi hai toh pirate kar ke dekho. China can force Middle Eastern countries to stop screening Galwan...These Khans earn massively from middle eastern Market. As far as conspiracy goes .. Western backed funding might be involved in this project as well to deteriorate ties and inflame public for no reason. Edited January 6 by Lone Wolf Gollum 1
zen Posted January 6 Posted January 6 (edited) The change has to come from audiences by not seeing movies as propaganda vehicles but as work of entertainment, art, zeitgeist, a cultural document, etc. Many times I watch films to understand people and culture of various periods. There would be exceptions but that is ok as exceptions are allowed. The reasons that many people prefer patriotic films could be that these films can a) create an alternate reality (when in the real world they see people acting as if they won a world war based on Operation Sindoor, while doing nothing for Hindus in BD), b) be viewed as a way to connect with past events if the film is based on true events, and c) offer a snapshot of the good men in the govt when in real world they deal with corruption, hassles, delays, etc., when dealing with government departments. On the propaganda side, they can serve to offer reasons as to why people of a different religions (not necessarily nations) are the villains. Edited January 6 by zen
coffee_rules Posted January 6 Posted January 6 The last mainstream Bollywood movie from A-listersc I saw was war, the first one. I also saw the badly made Prithviraj Chauhan movie by Akshay. It’s a waste of time even OTT to watch mainstream Bollywood movies.
Lord Posted January 6 Posted January 6 Mood of the nation decides the movies rather than other way round. Its simply profitable to make such movies now. In old times, Ikkis might have worked more than Dhurandhar Tillu 1
Lord Posted January 6 Posted January 6 1 hour ago, coffee_rules said: The last mainstream Bollywood movie from A-listersc I saw was war, the first one. I also saw the badly made Prithviraj Chauhan movie by Akshay. It’s a waste of time even OTT to watch mainstream Bollywood movies. Akshay is on record admitted he doesnt work hard for his roles. I avoid his movies except comedy
singhvivek141 Posted January 8 Author Posted January 8 On 1/6/2026 at 10:59 AM, IndianRenegade said: Border 2 is being releasing? It was one of my favourite movies from my childhood, used to take my brothers help to understand some of dialogues as all of Hindi knowledge was from watching other Bollywood movies. Anyways, the era of forced patriotism with lengthy dialogues bordering jingoism was long gone. Audience want realistic movies where patriotism is natural & not forced through dialogues & songs. I am worried you will be utterly disappointed with this one. Trailer seems extremely "CGI'ed"...except Sunny Deol nothing excites. But he too has gotten old and seems he is just there for short duration, majority of the film will be around Varun, Daljit & jr. Sunil Shetty. I am not an expert of cinematography, but lightings seems utterly flat in multiple scenes, giving them an unnatural look. Specially the Airforce and Navy scenes are completely flat....atleast some of the Army scenes looks they're shot in natural light.
singhvivek141 Posted January 8 Author Posted January 8 On 1/6/2026 at 11:54 PM, Lord said: Mood of the nation decides the movies rather than other way round. Its simply profitable to make such movies now. In old times, Ikkis might have worked more than Dhurandhar Hindustan ki Kasam was another one...bhaichara pro max. While 16 December (Milind Soman one) flopped badly despite a much more realistic tone. "Mera bharat mahaan, sau me se ninyanwe beimaan" Lord 1
Lord Posted January 8 Posted January 8 9 minutes ago, singhvivek141 said: Hindustan ki Kasam was another one...bhaichara pro max. While 16 December (Milind Soman one) flopped badly despite a much more realistic tone. "Mera bharat mahaan, sau me se ninyanwe beimaan" bhai kaisi kaisi movies dekhte ho? Heard the name first time. IMDB rating is 3.5/10 singhvivek141 1
singhvivek141 Posted January 8 Author Posted January 8 16 minutes ago, Lord said: bhai kaisi kaisi movies dekhte ho? Heard the name first time. IMDB rating is 3.5/10 Ajay Devgn ki thi yar..ye gana suna hi hoga.
coffee_rules Posted February 8 Posted February 8 What is happening? Salman Khan, Karen, Johar, and other Bollywood. Celebrities attending a RSS function and praising Mr. Bhagwat. !! Ho lya rha hain!
ravishingravi Posted February 9 Posted February 9 1 hour ago, coffee_rules said: What is happening? Salman Khan, Karen, Johar, and other Bollywood. Celebrities attending a RSS function and praising Mr. Bhagwat. !! Ho lya rha hain! coffee_rules 1
Lord Posted February 9 Posted February 9 1 hour ago, coffee_rules said: What is happening? Salman Khan, Karen, Johar, and other Bollywood. Celebrities attending a RSS function and praising Mr. Bhagwat. !! Ho lya rha hain! Pays to side will those with power I guess
coffee_rules Posted February 9 Posted February 9 53 minutes ago, Lord said: Pays to side will those with power I guess Naah koi movie release ho rha hoga
Lord Posted February 9 Posted February 9 26 minutes ago, coffee_rules said: Naah koi movie release ho rha hoga Different motives. Salman has Bishnoi thing too.
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