Cinema in India: From Entertainment to Propaganda Weapon – A Detailed Analysis
Cinema in India has long captivated audiences, becoming an integral part of the nation’s cultural fabric. In its early days, cinema served as a medium of entertainment, blending humor and storytelling with social messages. Films from the 1950s and 1960s, like Mother India or Jagruti, portrayed Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians living harmoniously, reflecting India’s secular ethos and celebrating its diversity. These films not only entertained but also promoted unity, mutual respect, and the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb—a cultural synthesis unique to India.
However, when wielded by the wrong hands, cinema’s power can be destructive, akin to a nuclear weapon. It can poison generations, spread hatred, and dismantle societal harmony. Unfortunately, this has increasingly become the reality in India. Since the 1990s, and especially post-2014 under the BJP government, cinema has been transformed into a tool for propaganda, targeting minorities, particularly Muslims, and rewriting history to serve divisive political agendas. This analysis delves into this journey, providing an expanded list of films from 2014 to 2025, key actors involved, and the specific propaganda against Mughals, supported by credible sources.
Cinema’s Misuse: From Ram Ke Naam to Babri Masjid
The roots of cinematic propaganda in India trace back decades. In the 1990s, as Hindutva ideology gained traction, the documentary Ram Ke Naam (1992) played a pivotal role. It portrayed Lord Ram as “imprisoned” in the Babri Masjid, urging Hindus to “liberate” him. The film amplified the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) Rath Yatra and the Ayodhya dispute, fueling communal tensions. The result was catastrophic: the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, followed by nationwide riots that killed thousands of Muslims. This event demonstrated cinema’s potential to inflame religious fervor for political gain.
The 2002 Gujarat riots further intensified this trend. Following the Godhra train incident, organized violence against Muslims saw women paraded naked, raped, and thousands burned alive. Documentaries like 2002 Gujarat History Full Documentary in Hindi and The Gujarat Files used real footage to expose police complicity and the involvement of BJP leaders. Tehelka’s sting operation, Operation Kalank, revealed confessions from BJP and VHP leaders, with one stating, “Narendra Bhai encouraged us and got us released from jail.” Over 1,000 Muslims were killed, and perpetrators later joined the BJP government. This tragedy became a blueprint for cinematic propaganda, inspiring divisive narratives.
Post-2014: Cinema as a Propaganda Weapon Under BJP
Since the BJP assumed power in 2014, cinema has been systematically weaponized. The party reportedly allocated an annual budget for producing 4–5 films targeting minorities, especially Muslims. These films, often released before elections, depict Muslims as terrorists, traitors, or perpetrators of “love jihad,” while glorifying Hindu nationalism. Below is an expanded list of films from 2014 to 2025, compiled from credible sources like IMDb, Scroll.in, and The News Minute:
Film Name | Year | Core Propaganda |
---|---|---|
Uri: The Surgical Strike | 2019 | Glorifies military action against Pakistani (Muslim) terrorists, promotes Hindu nationalism. |
Kesari | 2019 | Portrays Sikhs as heroes against Afghan Muslims, depicted as cruel, supports Hindutva. |
Padmaavat | 2018 | Mughal-era ruler Alauddin Khilji shown as a barbaric Muslim, glorifies Rajput victory. |
PM Narendra Modi | 2019 | Biopic praising Modi, endorses BJP policies. |
Tashkent Files | 2019 | Conspiracy theories vilifying Muslims and Congress as traitors. |
Panipat | 2019 | Marathas vs. Mughals, portrays Mughals as foreign oppressors. |
The Kashmir Files | 2022 | Links Kashmiri Pandit exodus to Muslim “genocide,” banned in Singapore for bias. |
Har Har Mahadev | 2022 | Maharashtra Hindu deity story, promotes Hindutva. |
The Vaccine War | 2023 | Ties COVID-19 vaccine to Hindu nationalism, sidelining minorities. |
The Kerala Story | 2023 | False narrative of Hindu girls converted to Islam and sent to ISIS, accuses Muslims of “love jihad.” |
Bastar: The Naxal Story | 2024 | Depicts Naxals as anti-Hindu, praises BJP’s military actions. |
Article 370 | 2024 | Glorifies revocation of Kashmir’s Article 370, isolates Muslims. |
Swatantrya Veer Savarkar | 2024 | Biopic of Hindutva leader Savarkar, portrays Muslims as enemies. |
The Sabarmati Report | 2024 | BJP’s version of 2002 Gujarat riots, blames Muslims. |
Emergency | 2024 | Attacks Indira Gandhi, vilifies Congress, supports Hindutva. |
The Bengal Files | 2025 | False narrative of “Hindu genocide” in Bengal, incites communal hatred. |
Gandhi Godse: Ek Yug Purush | 2025 | Biopic of Nathuram Godse, vilifies Gandhi, supports Hindutva. |
This list is not exhaustive; over 50 films have been identified as promoting Hindutva ideology.
Propaganda Against Mughals: Historical Revisionism
A critical yet often overlooked aspect is the propaganda against Mughals, portraying them as “foreign invaders” to bolster Hindu supremacy, a cornerstone of Hindutva ideology. Key examples include:
- Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior of Maratha Empire (2020): Mughals are depicted as “foreign” and tyrannical, while Maratha hero Tanhaji is the Hindu savior. Mughal rulers are shown as bloodthirsty and anti-Hindu.
- Panipat (2019): Marathas vs. Mughals, with Mughals portrayed as destroyers of Hindu culture.
- Bajirao Mastani (2015): Mughal courts are negatively depicted, while the Hindu Peshwa is glorified.
- Padmaavat (2018): Alauddin Khilji, linked to the Mughal era, is shown as a barbaric womanizer.
These films deepen the Hindu-Muslim divide by demonizing Mughals as “Muslim oppressors,” as noted by director Kabir Khan: “Mughals are being turned into devils.” This trend intensified post-9/11, with Muslim characters increasingly villainized.
Rebranding Controversial Figures: BJP-RSS Agenda in Cinema
Indian cinema is being strategically used to reshape the public image of controversial figures associated with the BJP and RSS, portraying them as heroic while vilifying those who represent secularism or inclusivity. Films like Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (2024) glorify Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a key Hindutva ideologue, as a nationalist icon, downplaying his divisive legacy. Similarly, Gandhi Godse: Ek Yug Purush (2025) attempts to reframe Nathuram Godse, Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, as a misunderstood patriot. Biopics such as PM Narendra Modi (2019) and upcoming projects on Yogi Adityanath present these leaders as infallible saviors of Hindu nationalism, despite their alleged roles in communal violence and polarizing policies. Conversely, figures like Mahatma Gandhi are depicted as weak or culpable for India’s partition in films like Emergency (2024), while the Congress party is portrayed as corrupt and anti-national. Mughals and Muslims are consistently demonized as foreign oppressors in historical dramas like Padmaavat (2018) and Panipat (2019), perpetuating stereotypes and rewriting history to align with the BJP-RSS ideology. This deliberate manipulation of cinema distorts historical truths and deepens societal divisions, serving as a powerful tool for political propaganda.
Actors’ Involvement: Reviving Careers Through Propaganda
Actors play a central role in these films, often leveraging failing careers to align with BJP’s agenda. Director Vivek Agnihotri, with direct BJP ties, leads this wave. Key actors include:
- Anupam Kher: Lead in The Kashmir Files, depicting Muslims as violent.
- Kangana Ranaut: Starred in The Kerala Story and Emergency, openly supports BJP.
- Mithun Chakraborty: BJP MP, featured in The Kashmir Files.
- Yami Gautam: Military heroine in Article 370 and The Vaccine War.
- Akshaye Khanna: Nationalist role in The Kashmir Files.
- Sunny Deol: Anti-Pakistan Muslim narrative in Gadar 2 (2023).
- Akshay Kumar: Nationalist films like Uri and Bharat.
- Adah Sharma: Lead in The Kerala Story.
- Vicky Kaushal: Military hero in Uri.
These actors gain political favor and revive careers through BJP-backed films, as reported by credible sources like CNN and Al Jazeera.
Social media, particularly X, reflects public discontent. One user noted, “Kashmir Files and Kerala Story broke box office records, but they spread hate.” Another wrote, “Demonizing Mughals has become Bollywood’s tradition.” Reports from The Guardian and The Diplomat confirm these films promote Modi’s policies.
Restoring Cinema’s True Purpose
When used responsibly, cinema can unite societies, but as propaganda, it sows hatred. Since 2014, the BJP has weaponized it to promote Hindutva and vilify Mughals and Muslims, posing a threat to India’s democracy. Opposition to such films, stronger censorship, and support for inclusive cinema are essential to restore India’s cultural ethos of unity.