‘Based On A True Story’ - Really ?

‘Gar firdaus, bar ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast.’
(If there is paradise on this earth, it is here, it is here, it is here…’ Amir Khusrau

From Kashmir to Kerala; from the Paradise on Earth, to God’s own Country, we have diverse landscapes, a rich cultural heritage, and architectural wonders. We are home to beautiful mountains, forests, rivers, deserts, and beaches.

We can boast of various religions, languages, food, traditions, rituals, arts, and music. And we have Bollywood! A portmanteau of ‘Bombay’ and ‘Hollywood’, it is the heart of the film industry.

In Bollywood, the directors are the backbone of the entire production. They are the ones who breathe life into the story and characters. They are the ones who captivate the audience. They are the ones who can make or break a story!

Some of the founding fathers, with their lyrical and melancholic subjects, were maestros of the storytelling craft. Their cutting edge methods, intricate characters and subtle narrative techniques defined their cinematic aesthetic.

We had visionaries known for their innovative and daring approach to filmmaking. We had realists who were particularly noted for their socialistic films to portray practicality and level headedness.

We also had geniuses who created cinematic masterpieces that transcended time. These were the ones who left an indelible mark on our film industry.

Much later, some arrived to not only raise the status of a ‘Joker’ to levels unimaginable, but also cited ‘Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram’, which translates to ‘Truth is God, who is auspicious; and God is beautiful’, thus quoting the Upanishads in an exquisitely musical way.

Then there were those who not only raised ‘romance’ to levels of euphoric proportions, but also made the entire nation dance to the tunes of brotherhood with the Amars, the Akbars, and the Anthony.

When the Idiot box arrived, it was permanently altered with the significant contributions of some masterminds. With an in-depth knowledge of Indian folklore, accurate depictions of our culture and customs, decorative narratives, strong dialogues and vivid imagery, those were the directors who had the entire nation hooked on to the small screen.

There were others too who were popular with the audience, not because their magic lay in the glamour, but because of the simplicity and warmth in their stories. Even now, we have visionaries who take the art of filmmaking to a whole new level.

These are the risk takers, who never hesitate to stray from the accepted norm to make unorthodox movies by delving into the more sinister aspects of human nature. Most are unflinchingly honest, passionate, and unvarnished, while others with their unconventional narrative choose to delve into the underside of society.

For a democracy to thrive, freedom of expression is vital and no film should be banned because it involves the bread and butter of thousands. For a storyteller to succeed, every story needs to be told, because the nation has a right to know the heartaches or the vulnerabilities of every native who belongs to the soil. But. The ‘Files’ that are brought out, or the ‘Stories’ that are told, should have a degree of accuracy.

It won’t matter as much if the movie is fiction, but when you put out a disclaimer that reads: ‘Based On A True Story’, you also need to verify those ‘truths’. And if the topics chosen are bound to create a communal flare or public unrest, the responsibility is doubled. Every detail needs to be authentic and well researched.

Why would anyone with any sense ever want to refute our very own Indian bard, the ‘rich’ Sufi saint, singer, musician and scholar?

Why on earth would any sane citizen living in this ‘Heaven’ want to turn it into a living Hell?

Why would anyone ever want to willingly hand over God’s Own Country into the Devil’s hand?

Every poet with a heart, a writer with a conscience and a filmmaker with scruples seriously needs to consider this. As for all the citizens, be kind. Be perceptive. Judge for yourself. Think before you speak. Verify before you forward. And please don’t believe EVERYTHING you are made to hear or see.