From Hashil to Yuva: When cinema captured student politics | Hindi Film News
JNUSU has been protesting against film shooting on campus for the past few days. One of the major issues they have is how universities and their students are portrayed in recent films. However, on the whole, Hindi films are usually sympathetic to student movements and their depiction in films, and campus politics resonates with some filmmakers. Let’s take a look back at a time when mainstream Indian cinema was involved in student politics and student activities.
Aarakshan (2011)
Prakash Jha’s films focused on the issue of caste-based reservations in government jobs and educational institutions. It depicted the changes in caste politics in the post-Mandal Commission era.
Ranjana (2013)
Aanand L. Rai’s film portrays Abhay Deol as a student leader of JNU. However, the JNUite representative made many uncomfortable. Swara Bhaskar, a JNU alumnus who played an important role in the film, later said in an interview: This movie conveys a lot of warmth. Have there ever been any movies that contain less realistic depictions of universities such as Allahabad University and Delhi University? People need to understand that this movie is imaginary. ”
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, a DU graduate, was in Mumbai when the protests against the Mandal Commission erupted. He utilized his own experience in student politics and his knowledge of such events for Rang De Basanti. In an interview with a magazine, Mehra said, “Ran de Basanti did not come out with an opinion of his own. It was born from the perspective of how one human being can exploit another human being. I am glad that this work has changed the way so many people think and inspired change.”
Interested in student protests: Sudhir Mishra
I’m more interested in the student protests, but I’m more interested in the young women who are standing up and leading the way. I am also the son of a professor and have spent my entire life on campus. That’s my life and I’m interested in campus life.I’ve been watching it since the 80s — Sudhir Mishra said in a 2020 interview
Goulart (2009)
Anurag Kashyap’s films have focused on university politics from the beginning and continue to depict the failures of the system. ‘Gulaal’ is director Kashyap’s second film (after the CBFC did not allow the release of his first film ‘Paanch’) and the filmmaker believes that ‘Gulaal’ is the result of his own deep anger against the establishment. He said there is.
Ye Wo Manzil Toh Nahin (1987)
Sudhir Mishra’s first film depicts the journey of three friends as they reminisce about their college athletic days. In 2019, Mishra announced that he had started working on a remake of the film. “I’m going to remake my first movie! Today’s students are the inspiration for it,” he wrote to X.
Yuba (2004)
Mani Ratnam’s film focuses on the need to eradicate corruption in the country. In the film, student union leader Michael, played by Ajay Devgn, and his friends enter politics to bring about change after winning four contested seats in the Bengal elections.
Hazaroon Kwahishein Aisi (2005)
Sudhir Mishra’s film follows the rebellion of three students at St. Stephen’s University and captures the political and social context of the student movement in the 70s. Critics considered it one of the best political films ever made.
Hersil (2003)
Tigmanshu Dhulia’s directorial debut, a graduate of Allahabad University, depicts the student politics and gang wars that the filmmaker experienced on campus. Critics praised the film for its deep dive into the dark world of student politics. In an interview last year, Tigmanshu said, “Making Haasil got me a job for seven years. It will always be remembered.”
“Haasil has set a high bar for films about student politics.”
The first film to capture student dissonance was The Leader (1964), in which Dilip Kumar was portrayed as a student who became a spokesperson for other students. The film depicts how students were used by politicians for personal gain, and this became something of a template for many subsequent films. Several of his films in the 70s and 80s depicted student anxiety (with the system). One of his best films depicting student politics is Tigman Shudhuria’s Haasil. The film has excellent dialogue and sets a high bar for a film about student activism. The film is a complex portrayal of the dynamics of student politics, and takes center stage, showing that student politics is the hotbed of politics in this country. Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi is one of his rare films that effectively captures the atmosphere of student politics.
— Gautam Chintamani, film historian
Aarakshan (2011)
Prakash Jha’s films focused on the issue of caste-based reservations in government jobs and educational institutions. It depicted the changes in caste politics in the post-Mandal Commission era.
Ranjana (2013)
Aanand L. Rai’s film portrays Abhay Deol as a student leader of JNU. However, the JNUite representative made many uncomfortable. Swara Bhaskar, a JNU alumnus who played an important role in the film, later said in an interview: This movie conveys a lot of warmth. Have there ever been any movies that contain less realistic depictions of universities such as Allahabad University and Delhi University? People need to understand that this movie is imaginary. ”
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, a DU graduate, was in Mumbai when the protests against the Mandal Commission erupted. He utilized his own experience in student politics and his knowledge of such events for Rang De Basanti. In an interview with a magazine, Mehra said, “Ran de Basanti did not come out with an opinion of his own. It was born from the perspective of how one human being can exploit another human being. I am glad that this work has changed the way so many people think and inspired change.”
Interested in student protests: Sudhir Mishra
I’m more interested in the student protests, but I’m more interested in the young women who are standing up and leading the way. I am also the son of a professor and have spent my entire life on campus. That’s my life and I’m interested in campus life.I’ve been watching it since the 80s — Sudhir Mishra said in a 2020 interview
Expanding
Anurag Kashyap’s films have focused on university politics from the beginning and continue to depict the failures of the system. ‘Gulaal’ is director Kashyap’s second film (after the CBFC did not allow the release of his first film ‘Paanch’) and the filmmaker believes that ‘Gulaal’ is the result of his own deep anger against the establishment. He said there is.
Ye Wo Manzil Toh Nahin (1987)
Sudhir Mishra’s first film depicts the journey of three friends as they reminisce about their college athletic days. In 2019, Mishra announced that he had started working on a remake of the film. “I’m going to remake my first movie! Today’s students are the inspiration for it,” he wrote to X.
Yuba (2004)
Mani Ratnam’s film focuses on the need to eradicate corruption in the country. In the film, student union leader Michael, played by Ajay Devgn, and his friends enter politics to bring about change after winning four contested seats in the Bengal elections.
Hazaroon Kwahishein Aisi (2005)
Sudhir Mishra’s film follows the rebellion of three students at St. Stephen’s University and captures the political and social context of the student movement in the 70s. Critics considered it one of the best political films ever made.
Hersil (2003)
Tigmanshu Dhulia’s directorial debut, a graduate of Allahabad University, depicts the student politics and gang wars that the filmmaker experienced on campus. Critics praised the film for its deep dive into the dark world of student politics. In an interview last year, Tigmanshu said, “Making Haasil got me a job for seven years. It will always be remembered.”
“Haasil has set a high bar for films about student politics.”
The first film to capture student dissonance was The Leader (1964), in which Dilip Kumar was portrayed as a student who became a spokesperson for other students. The film depicts how students were used by politicians for personal gain, and this became something of a template for many subsequent films. Several of his films in the 70s and 80s depicted student anxiety (with the system). One of his best films depicting student politics is Tigman Shudhuria’s Haasil. The film has excellent dialogue and sets a high bar for a film about student activism. The film is a complex portrayal of the dynamics of student politics, and takes center stage, showing that student politics is the hotbed of politics in this country. Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi is one of his rare films that effectively captures the atmosphere of student politics.
— Gautam Chintamani, film historian
(Tag Translate) Student Politics
