Author: Jagath Jayaprakash
Publication: Indusscrolls.com
Date: April 6, 2022
URL:      https://indusscrolls.com/rrr-is-revitalising-bharats-soul

After the resounding success of Kashmir files by Vivek Agnihotri, director S.S. Rajamouli’s magnum opus RRR has engulfed the entire country like a tsunami drawing a sea of people to theatres. The film explores the struggle of two freedom fighters to liberate India from British oppression. Rajamouli, who has previously directed blockbusters like ‘Magadheera’ and ‘Baahubali’, has emphasised ‘nationalism’ this time. The movie, a visual spectacle, has become a blockbuster and is something that the Indian audience has never witnessed before.

Even though the lead characters in the movie are based on the lives of freedom fighters Alluri Sitaram Raju and Komaram Bheem, played by Ram Charan and NTR Junior, respectively, there are references to freedom fighters Veer Savarkar as well. RRR, released in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi, has crossed 700 crores worldwide in the first week and continues to draw families into movie houses. As it is a film based on the struggle of freedom fighters, a strong stigma of nationalism has been blended into it. The film’s central characters, Ram-Sita and Bhim, make a factual statement about nationalism and Hindutva. RRR also conveys how a movie can induce nationalism and patriotism without playing the secular card. Previously, in similar movies, a Muslim character would make a national sacrifice while chanting ‘Alla Hu Akbar’ to express a secular message. It is must for a Muslim character in those types of movies to state that he is not a Muslim, but an Indian is essential.

However, things are different in RRR. At the beginning of the movie, Bhim, played by Jr. NTR, must live as a Muslim as part of a secret mission. Bheem is on a quest to rescue a girl who has been kidnapped by a nasty British captain and his wife, who has assumed the identity of Akhtar.

While the audience knows that the hero is not Muslim and does not speak Urdu, he is fully integrated when he dons the skull cap. In his neighbourhood, he was provided asylum by a Muslim family. The family sacrificed their lives to assist Bhim in his insurrection against the British empire to save his tribe member. At first glance, Akhtar (Bhim in disguise) and Ram’s relationship evokes Hindu-Muslim relationships popularised in films such as Amar, Akbar, and Anthony. Ram and Akhtar dine with the other Muslim supporting cast members. They all share a single dish. The brotherhood between Muslims and Hindus is sensitively depicted in predominantly Hindu aesthetics. A form of “secularism” in which Muslims are respected but not lauded.

The filmmaker may have shot such a grandiose ending in anticipation of the audience’s desire to witness his holy hero use arrows and bows to slay the English form of Ravana. Bhima, Hanuman’s Rama, stands with him during this battle. In the Ramayana, Hanuman takes Rama’s ring and proceeds to Sita, whom Ravana is holding. While Bhima presents Rama with Sita’s ring, the British apprehend him. In this regard, Ramayan serves as an inspiration for the film’s plot.

The film’s unifying force is proven by Ajay Devgan and Alia Bhatt’s pivotal cameo appearances. The film also states that Hindutva is not an overpowering political ideology. Instead, it is a living philosophy that encompasses everything aesthetically Indian or Hindu. It is a means of tying up loose ends in this vast country marked by several fault areas periodically targeted politically.

Rajamouli enhanced India’s ancient culture and civilisation in a few of his films. Like Bahubali and Magadheera, many of his films believe they convey a sense of ancient India’s grandeur and power. RRR is also a period piece, albeit without the royal family that Rajamouli’s films are known for. Storyline Concentrate on British atrocities against Indians and the revolutionaries who stood up to them. Nonetheless, the hero reappears at the conclusion as Ram engaged in combat with the British

Meanwhile, some pro-Islamist left-leaning liberals have also accused Rajamouli of making his film a triumph by working on the agenda of nationalism. However, after Kashmir Files, what will the same people say about; RRR, which is making a wave in the whole country?

Some movies from Tamilnadu and Kerala have historically borne out of anti-national sentiments. Mani Ratnam’s films pioneered this subject. Dil Se and Raavan are some classic examples. Mani Ratnam deliberately portrayed the security forces of India in a bad light in those movies by showing them in a bad light. Besiseds that, he also sympathised with Islamic fringe elements and Naxalites.

RRR instils nationalism in its viewers, resulting in heartburn for anti-national elements. These people are dissatisfied with the film’s portrayal of Alluri Sitarama Raju as Hindu God Ram. Alluri Sitaram Raju’s photographs depict him elegantly dressed in saffron robes, with a tilak on his forehead and a bow and arrow. The Telugu community still reveres him as a manifestation of God, Maanyam Veerudu (Hero of the Jungle). Rajamouli’s cultural nationalism upset Pro-Islamist fringe groups and Leftists. Rajamouli is a fervent nationalist, evidenced by his films that lauded ancient India’s magnificent governmental and military structures in Bahubali and Magadheera. Additionally, RRR is the anthem of India’s pride narrative.

The film concludes with the song ‘Sholay Sholay’ and appearances by prominent figures from the Indian independence movement. For 75 years following independence, these leaders were absent from patriotic films. Even Indira Gandhi appeared in several films alongside Gandhi and Nehru. However, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Kittur Rani Chennamma, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, Bhagat Singh, Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are depicted in the song. The Vande Mataram’s flag is prepared for one of the film’s conflict scenes.

The movie substantiates the idea of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat (One India, united India) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s modern nation-building and nationalism concept. All Indians should be proud to say“Bharat mata ki Jai” and “Jai Shri Ram” to express their love for their nation and culture. Nobody has to despise anyone or infringe on another person’s liberty as long as they accept the majority’s cultural motifs occupying a significant portion of public imagination and refrain from promoting alternative political narratives or attempting to take centre stage as a community.

The super success Kashmir Files and RRR will force the filmmakers to think about whether the mood of the country’s audiences is changing? Some people are constantly alleging that both these films have been made, keeping in mind the agenda of the BJP, so the party is continuously promoting it and making it tax-free in the states under its government.