From Padosi to My Name is Khan: The Portrayal of Hindu–Muslim Relations in South Asian Films

Abstract

The portrayal of Hindu–Muslim relations in Hindi-language films has been a topic of discussion in several recent writings; for instance, in Chadha and Kavoori [2008], Hirji [2008], Ghuman [2006] and Rai [2003]. These articles mostly argue that Muslims in Hindi films are “exoticized, marginalized, and demonized and they are portrayed as the ‘other.’” To test this thesis I surveyed several films and found that Hindi films themselves are being stereotyped, based on their recent portrayal of Muslims. As an example, I will first examine an article by Booth [2004] which argues that Muslims were the political Other even in some older films. I will then compare Mishra's article [2002] with Lal [1998] in light of the film Khalnayak; and then, following Lal, I will provide my own analysis of some films that are woven around the relationship of Hindus with Muslims but have escaped the attention of film scholars. Although the recent upsurge in “cinepatriotism” and “Hinduness” in Hindi films is (rightly) criticized by scholars, in this article, I look at examples from several films to argue that secularism, embraced by films such as Padosi [1941] and Hum ek hain [1946], has been maintained by most Indian filmmakers. I discuss these films in four categories: India–Pakistan partition, Hindu–Muslim violence, Hindu–Muslim friendly relations, and films about modern Muslim communities. Although most of the films I discuss are Hindi ones I will also make brief references to Pakistani, Bengali-language and other South Asian films.

Notes

I have found some disagreements with Kesavan's article in Trivedi's one on the Hindi language [2006].

In contrast to Booth's approach, Philip Lutgendorf acknowledges the enthusiastic reception that Baiju Bawra continues to enjoy: http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/baijubawra.html (accessed June 30, 2009). This is one example showing the importance of an ethnographic study of Indian films as against a “textual” study.

Just as Hindu–Muslim harmony is maintained in other businesses where both these communities have their financial interests interlinked [Varshney 2002].

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pankaj Jain

PANKAJ JAIN is the author of Sustenance and Sustainability: Dharma and Ecology of Hindu Communities [2011] and has published in Religious Studies Review, Worldviews, Religion Compass, Journal of Vaishnava Studies, Union Seminary Quarterly Review, and Visual Anthropology. His research interests include Hinduism, Jainism, environmental ethics, Indian films, Indo-Aryan languages and literatures. He has taught at North Carolina State University, Rutgers, Kean and New Jersey City Universities. He is now exploring connections between religious traditions and sustainability in Hindu and Jain communities in North Texas. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and an M.A. from Columbia University, both in Religious Studies.