Class Representations in Bollywood

Representation of Lower Classes in Bollywood

Introduction• Bollywood portrayals as a reflection of society

• Constructs a version of social reality

• Defines what is considered ‘normal’

• In the last few decades representations of class have evolved

• Pre-Independence - Nationalism

• Post - Independence - Nehruvian dream

• Social realism

• Class struggle an important theme, sometimes the main theme

• Focus on poverty, discrimination

• Wealth linked to corruption and exploitation

• 1990s onwards

• Dramatic liberalization of Indian economy

• Urban setting

• Representation of elite India - fast cars and branded clothes

• Bollywood as an escape from reality

• Grand narratives and fantastical events

• Glamour and glitz

“The Indian audience doesn’t want to watch poor people.”

- Zoya Akhtar

• A recent analysis of lead characters of more than 250 films released in 2013 and 2014 by The Hindu newspaper revealed that only six lead characters belonged to a backward caste. The Indian national daily collected information available publicly on characters as well as the storyline of each of these films for its report.

• The world inhabited by upper classes is the new normal

“If someone makes a film where the hero is not rich then they call it an alternative film. Why is a film about a poor man alternative in India? Majority of Indians are poor!”

Rickshawalas and Taxi Drivers

Rickshawalas and Taxi Drivers• Earlier - lead characters being rickshaw walas and taxi

drivers - their spaces, their lives

• e.g. Taxi Driver (1954) and Main Rickshawala, Chhoti Bahen (1959)

• Now - Almost non-existent, very less screen space

• When screenspace is given,

• Aiding the Upper class protagonist: Taxi No. 9211 (2006) and Tamasha (2015)

• Cause of embarrassment: Raja Hindustani (1996), Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015)

• Tribute to Rickshawalas - Aap ka Suroor

Labourers and Working Class

Labourers and Working Class• Labourers, their daily struggle and their socio-political struggles

has been an inspiration for filmmakers• Cinema experimented with the themes focused on the lives and

woes of workers• Eg: Do Bheega Zameen, Naya daur, Paigham, Mazdoor, Deewar,

Namak haram, Coolie, Kaala Patthar, Koyla• Bollywood kept the changing face of labour and its changing

political undertones• Made the films reach out to larger audience

Rural to Urban Migration

• The films are known for its socialist theme about the gritty, unpleasant struggles of those who are the most vulnerable

• It captures the compulsions of poor farmer who is forced to migrate and earn in a new city

Do Bigha Zamin(1953)

Challenges of post-Industrialization

• The films stand testament to the power of the collective over the individual

Naya Daur(1957)

Manthan (1976)

Atrocities faced by the Working Class

• Theme of protection of socially backward class

Coolie(1983)

Laadla(1994)

City of Gold (2010)

Vendors

Vendors • Markets often used as backdrops, especially in romantic sequences

• Street vendors, hawkers etc. usually as subsidiary charcaters

• Clear dearth of representation in Bollywood

• Often pop up in song sequences

• With the shift to Western-style malls, reducing need for these characterizations

Vendors • A parodic/exaggerated representation by mainstream Bollywood

• When depicted, shown as:

• Children compelled to work

• Lower class a vulnerable group

• Lower class aiding upper class protagonists to achieve their ambitions

• Lower class more likely to indulge in wrongdoings

Exception to the Rule

Saudagar - 1973

• Lead Actor - Amitabh Bachchan

• Rural setting

• Selling of gur (jaggery)

• Exception to the rule that characters of vendors do not find major representation in Bollywood films

Domestic Help

• 1970s- Raghu chachas and Ramu kakas; genial, subservient. Simple, established class roles, lower class wasn’t even expected to transcend the circumstances of his birth

• Mili (1975)- manservant accompanies protagonist throughout his journeys, serves as his protector against intruders. He is also a drinking partner, their relationship almost like squabbling spouses

• Some films of the 70s experimented with the class roles. Servants portrayed as sources of wisdom, godly characteristics- Bawarchi (1972). Chupke Chupke (1975)- questioning class distinctions, love affair with the driver

• 1980s- servants as subsidiary characters, providing slapstick comedy, social commentary takes a backseat. Servant class invisibilized as joint families declined

• Also shifted to cover ideas like social mobility which is covered in today in movies like Titli (2015)

• 1990s- blurred class roles. Movies like Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994) where protagonist and servant are buddies

• 2000s and 2010s- Modern day depiction of domestic help is fluid

• Some like Piku (2015) which portray themes like the master’s complete dependence on the servant which is similar to what was covered even in the 70s in movies like Sholay

• Talvar (2015) portrays the servant as a possible source of threat, while establishing him as a benevolent caretaker

• Affection, interdependence, friendship were some of the themes covered

• Domestic help as one of the lower class communities that are actually integral to the plot, and the protagonists

• Representation of this community has not followed a linear pattern of evolution; some themes are recurrent over the years, some films emphasize particular themes which have been significant through different time periods

Domestic Help

Conclusion• Changes in representation over the years as a reflection of

changing society

• Evolution from central themes/characters to subsidiary roles

• Identity of the lower class groups shaped by their lower class profession or with respect to the protagonist

• Even with an urban setting, they are ‘outsiders’ with rural roots

• Skewed representations of these groups which influences perceptions of reality

Thank You! :-)

Aishwarya Javalgekar

Rishikesh Thakur

Sashank Kini

Shruthi Rajkumar

Referenceshttp://www.catchnews.com/culture-news/they-don-t-make-them-anymore-5-iconic-bollywood-heroes-from-the-working-class-1441011969.html

https://migrantscape.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/indian-cinema-and-labour/

http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/57564/1/__lse.ac.uk_storage_LIBRARY_Secondary_libfile_shared_repository_Content_Banaji,%20S_Bollywood%20adolescents_Banaji_Bollywood%20adolescents_2014.pdf

http://qz.com/439701/bollywood-films-are-all-about-upper-caste-hindu-heroes/

https://www.academia.edu/8332598/_Bollywood_adolescents_young_viewers_discuss_childhood_class_and_Hindi_films

http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/helps-at-hand-bollywoods-representation-of-the-family-retainer/