INDIA

                                                  By Vibav Srinivasan 2021A4PS1899H

Wars have significantly contributed to the evolution of Indian cinema. The major wars India has suffered in its modern history are:

World War 2 / British Rule.
Indo-Pakistan Wars.

Indian cinema during World War II (1939-1945) was significantly impacted by the political and social situation of the time. The Indian film industry was still in its early stages and had to navigate through various challenges during this period.

During the war, the British colonial government imposed strict censorship on Indian film and media. The government closely monitored films to ensure they did not promote nationalist sentiments or undermine British rule. This led to the banning or heavy editing of several films. The war led to an increase in British propaganda films in India. These films were made to promote the war effort and to encourage people to support the government's policies. Films which represented the British as superior were also made as an attempt to prolong British Rule. Indian filmmakers made films that would uplift the morale of the people and promote nationalism as a way to fight against British Rule.

 

The British Government’s Films Division released a five-minute propaganda film called ‘Face of India’ in 1942 that highlighted the Allies’ World War 2 effort and India’s role in it to show a positive narrative of the British colonial government.
 

The movie ‘Sikandar’ (1941) directed by Sohrab Modi starring himself along with Prithviraj Kapoor, Zahul Raja and Vanmula tells the story of Alexander the Great and how he conquered India, which was seen as a way to promote British rule as a continuation of this legacy.

 The movie ‘Kismet’ (1943) was Directed by Gyan Mukherjee starring Ashok Kumar, Mumtaz Shanti, and Shah Nawaz. The film was a huge success and is considered one of the most important films of the era. The film portrayed a strong anti-British sentiment and had patriotic songs that resonated with the then-ongoing freedom movement, which became the major catalyst in the film's box-office success.

Films were also made about Freedom fighters who gave their lives fighting for India. These films contributed greatly to spreading nationalism and teaching the then and future generations about the various conflicts India went through.

Some notable films on freedom fighters include,

"Shaheed" is a 1965 Indian film directed by S. Ram Sharma and produced by Kewal Kashyap. The film is a biopic of Bhagat Singh, an Indian revolutionary socialist who was influential in the Indian independence movement.

"Shaheed" was released during a time of heightened political tensions in India and was received positively by audiences. The film's depiction of Bhagat Singh as a heroic figure fighting for the independence of his country resonated with many viewers and helped to further popularize his story.

The Indo-Pakistan wars also had a significant impact on Indian Cinema. Many films were made on patriotic themes. Films were used as a medium to show the many sacrifices the Indian Army went through to protect the nation. These films were also used to educate the coming generations about the history of Pakistan. War films also helped the technological advancement of Indian Cinema. Many of the war scenes and battle sequences required CGI, and better cameras like slow-motion cameras were used for better visual effects.

 
For example one of the most notable films was ‘Border 1997’. Border 1997 was directed by J.P Dutta and starred Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, and Jackie Shroff. It was based on the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 and tells the story of an Indian soldier who defended the Longewala Post all night until they received assistance from the Indian army.

In recent times, the movie ‘SherShaah’ directed by Vishnuvardan and starring Siddharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani took the audience into the life of Vikram Batra a martyr of the Kargil War of 1999.

Overall the war times had a significant impact on Indian Cinema as many films were banned due to censorship during the time of British rule during the World War. Many brought nationalism to the hearts of the people and forever remain to remind and teach us of our history and the sacrifices the Indian Army has made to maintain peace in the country.