After romantic comedy, nationalism is one thing that has drawn the Indian audiences to the cinema halls for decades! From Manoj Kumar to Amitabh Bachchan to the Khans of today, almost all actors have had their share of fame and success in the shoes of a patriot.
Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai, Dehkna Hai Zor Kitna Baajuen Qaatil Mein Hai, Apne Hi Lahoo Se Likhenge Hum Apni Daastaan, Mulk Pe Qurbaan Ho Yeh Aarzoo Dil Dil Mein Hai, Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai.
In the beginning this verse meant nothing to DJ and his happy go lucky gang in Rang De Basanti, but faced with the fact of their friends death, they woke up, and decided to fight it out, for a cause - that of freeing their mulk from corruption.
It was not just DJ and his gang who woke up. Rang De Basanti sparked off a fire which burned in the mind of the youth across India. The movie went all the way to Roobaroo with the Cannes Film festival.
Sarfarosh, which hit the screens in 1999, spoke about an Indian police officers fight to stop cross-border terrorism, while Border turned the limelight on the futility of wars.
Mani Ratnams Roja broke the language barriers. It had the right recipes of love - a mans to his country and a wifes to her husband. Add a dash of tilting music by A R Rahman and the movie was an instant hit.
Munnabhai series popularized Ganchigiri. It took to satyagraha like bees to honey! It was almost identical to the team up against odds, which was kicked off by Lagaan.
Lagaan brought two of the nations biggest passions, cricket and movies, together. It was perhaps the first time in ages that the gun shots and swishing swords from the yester year patriotic movies- both colour and black and white - were replaced by the ball hitting the bat. Again, something which the Gen X could relate to Not that we did not feel the pain when Mangal Pandey and Bhagat Singh were shot on screens. Many wiped that errant tear away when our freedom fighters were exiled across the Kalapani.
A stark contrast to these period patriotic flickers was Phir Bhi Din Hai Hindustani. The movie, while bringing out the Indian scenario floating on the whims and fancies of politics and media, portrayed the collective strength of an average Indian.
Then, we saw NASA scientist Mohan Bhargav, played by SRK coming back to settle down in a small village in India in Swades. And it sure was the time when people were coming back to settle down in India!
In these 60 years, Indian Cinema has come a long way, transforming itself into a much more relevant and realistic form with which an average Indian can identify!
Now, another hallmark in the history of nationalism-driven-cinema awaits us: Chak De India. A movie not just brimming with a strong feeling of patriotism, but also bringing into the spotlight our long forgtten national game, Hockey, and most importantly, the empowering of Indian Women! Chak De Memsaabs!
