defied time! This unquestioning at- titude of people, added to their nau- seating look of hope, with their sickly adoration made my blood boil. Many scenes depict the ruled as hopeless wastrels! This single minded bowing down to authority is what made Indians bonded to the rule of the British for more than 300 years, allowed Congress to continue its corrupt regime for 70 years, and is now sanctioning BJP rule with their Hindutva terror agenda God knows for how long. Questioning a ruler and demanding from them their rights must be done with pride in return of the taxes paid not as if begging and taking alms. If not tradition, by exhibiting such revolt Rajamouli would have had his movie immemorial and noteworthy, thus touching the hearts of millions, not just high caste Hindus. But he, a Kshatriya by caste in real life, kept stereotypes hanging lose with strong Hindu symbols that play on the viewer’s mind at a subconscious level: Only the rich and powerful can and will rule-it’s a matter of WHICH prince is more capable not WHOEVER is capable, evil be damned! As this movie is not based on any historical or mythological fig- ures, scenes depicting social change would have been welcomed heartily. But Rajamouli stuck to his deep-rooted stereotypes with his subtle but sure symbols of authority and sexism: King is God, Kshatriyas are protectors (hero actually says it 3 times in Telugu version and once in Hindi version. Yes, we Telugus are more submissive than all)
like Swami and Rakhwala are liber- ally used equating king to God and the panhandling is sadly visible. Fe- male power, as being portrayed by Ramya Krishnan and Anushka, is sabotaged, subdued and used for just one purpose: To uphold the su- premacy of the male protagonist, in this case the backstabbed Kshatriya prince, Prabhas/Bahubali. In addi- tion, common people of the great Mahishmati kingdom appear noth- ing but wastrels always looking up to a king who would deliver them from all evils. If he disappears or gets killed, they just bow down to the next ruler, Rana, albeit miser- ably. No question of revolt or oust- ing of the evil king; just wait for eternity for the good days to come on their own! This fictional story might have transpired way back in history but same principles work even TODAY, in spite of the so- called democracy in our country. caste dominance and king/govt being equaled to God resonance has
pointed me the most is the narration lacks in the department of steady emotions, logic and earthy revolu- tion. In addition, I was very much taken aback by the obvious inten- tion to maintain existing state of af- fairs, especially regarding social and political issues, of caste system and its power play. For a movie that is beating its chest with pride as a path breaker, I wish Rajamouli had risen from the stereotypical Hindu inward view and thought beyond caste and sex- ist dynamics, especially in view of so many dalit students killing themselves in frustra- tion and minorities being un- dermined by Hindu Gau Rakhshaks (cow-protectors). Lyrics too depict this slave-ruler dimension through out. (listen to the song Dandalayya (Telugu) or Jai- jai kara (Hindi) and you will know what I am worried about. Words
65 www.indiaparentmagazine.org
Summer Camp Special 2017
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