Cultural 'invasion' by Hindi films : Hipocratic notion or not?

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Cultural 'invasion' by Hindi films



By Sonia Kristy


There has been quite a furor over a decision by Ekushey TV to air two Hindi feature films on the third and fourth nights after Eid day. ETV, which claims to be the channel of the 21st century, took the decision to make their Eid programming attractive and probably to keep pace with changing times. But no sooner had this decision been announced than it attracted the attention of ordinary people, as well as intellectuals. Ordinary people like myself were intrigued by a newspaper advertisement in which intellectuals raised serious objections. They stated that by airing Hindi commercial movies Ekushey would be promoting a Hindi cultural 'invasion' of the country. Columns were written on the issue by eminent sci-fi writer Muhammad Jafar Iqbal, and another by well-known director Saidul Anam Tutul. Ultimately, in the face of this objection, Ekushey TV had to withdraw its decision.

What an absurd objection by our intellectuals! In today's world of free culture, is there anything called an 'invasion'? We regularly air English movies and serials on our TV channels. Are these invasions too? Or is it just Hindi culture that we are dead against?


If we take the last statement to be the correct one, then we are being hypocritical and suffering from a serious inferiority complex. Hindi culture, especially Hindi movies, have emerged immensely in the past few years and are being acclaimed as international culture. This is proven when we see Hindi Movies (commercial) acquiring places in the US and UK top ten charts. But what about our own movies? I'm sorry to say that the way our movies are being made, forget about us taking a place in the international movie charts, we cannot even attract the general audience of our own country. I'm sure the intellectuals would agree with me in this respect.

However, the intellectuals do not oppose the airing of vulgar and violent Bengali movies on our TV channels. Is it just because they are products of our own culture? I wonder who would be insane enough to term Bangladeshi commercial movies as representative of our own culture.

As for the so-called Hindi cultural invasion, hasn't Hindi culture already invaded our country? During these days of satellite television, Hindi programmes have entered our living rooms and have become a part of our lives, whether we admit this or not. From rickshaw-pullers to students of English medium schools, everyone keeps abreast of newly released Hindi movies, the latest heartthrob, popular gossip and the life-style of Hindi movie personalities. And if our intellectuals answer honestly, they'll have to admit that Hindi culture has invaded their lives as well-- if not their own but surely their offspring's lives. If they aren't convinced, I would request them to ask their children about this.


Ironically, at a recent international film festival in Dhaka, inaugurated by our state minister for culture and sports and attended by intellectuals, the Hindi movie, "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" supposed to be aired on ETV during Eid, was screened. Interestingly, nobody objected. It was claimed that such film festivals would promote a sane culture in our country and improve relations between neighbouring countries.

We cannot keep on living in a cocoon and shut ourselves from the rest of the world. We have to accept the challenge of the day and keep pace with the times. We have to improve our own culture to attract people, not discourage others. Only then can we can stop the so-called cultural 'invasion'.

[Faisal_Aslam]

A.A

Yes. It is bad ....
It mean more infulence of Indian culture.
Seema was asking that "Is any body know what is lattest weding fashion of India" I asked her what you mean by weding fashion of India ask What is fashion in Bangladesh. Then she replied that we do not have any fashion and we follow indian fashions.
That was not a good thing for me to hear on the b.com board......
Is bangladesh culture is so much infulence form India culture. Too bad... ?????

Faisal Aslam

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My point was that the article asks whether we are being hipocratic when we allow showing of English movies and absurd Bangladeshi movies but draw the line when it comes to even clean Indian movies.

[Faisal_Aslam]

A.A
I do not watch them and do not like other to watch them ...... They are ediot movies. It much better to watch English or Bangali then India movie.
I do not know why people watch india movies Here is the whole story of ALL of those movie..

1) There is a girl and a guy. Both are young always and both are pretty always. Both know how to dance and sing always..

2) they meet each other and then start loving each other.

3) rain start and they are singing in rain.

4) some one comes in between them as vilion..

5) either they meet at the end or they die together to meet in the skys.

The End..

First all ages are beautifull and India movies are telling that only young age is beautifull. In english movies hero can be of any age (not always young) and english movies stories change not keep going around above 5 step. You know different good thing after watching good English movies like watch X files on tv (hehe) and 13 days etc etc
Also indian movies are more bad for mental health .....

Faisal Aslam

[Edited by Faisal_Aslam on 10th March 2001 at 05:19]

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Bro,

Since you haven't watched Indian movies how dare you making that call on them.

Many new directors are coming up with movies that are brilliant and can compete with any Western movies. I have friends who don't understand Hindi or Urdu but just judging by subtitled Hindi movies some have been really impressed.

[Faisal_Aslam]

A.A
I used to watch them few years ago but now I stop watching them as now I am mature enough..
Those movies stories are so childish that I can not imagine.
Also I stop watching them as you know in Pakistan in many video center there is a box that say put you money here to send Kashmires. People keep filling that box and keep getting Indian movies SIDE BY SIDE. That what is called hipocraticy.

So either do not talk about kashmir and do not send you pay check to them or stop watching indian movies and do not give them any bussiness.
I was reading CIA fact sheat on Bangaldesh import huge amount of good from india (biggest imported for Bangladesh) mean they give india money to kill Kashmires and people in Asam and fight against Pakistan . This i thought is hipocratic.

Faisal Aslam

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We depend on goods from India because we are not self-sufficiaent in everything. We have to trade with someone who would give us products at cheap price. We can work towards self-sufficiency but it would take time as the population is very high. Without this import we would have a scarcity and people would die on this side. Think clearly before you make a rash comment like you did. There are 150 million Muslims in India. And stop viewing India as one big package of Hinduism. Remember Islam was not spread with Hatred.