For years, many Indian audiences have held the notion that Western films are inherently superior to Indian cinema. They have an elitist view that defines what is “good” or “watchable”. Hollywood movies are often glorified, while Indian films, regardless of their success or cultural impact, are dismissed as melodramatic or unrefined.
This debate recently resurfaced when Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar was re-released globally in IMAX on December 6 but failed to secure screen space in India. Instead, Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna’s highly anticipated sequel, Pushpa 2: The Rule, dominated Indian screens, including IMAX.
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Frustrated fans took to social media to express their disappointment, with some claiming that “India doesn’t deserve cinema”.
Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor entered the discussion by commenting on an Instagram post about the controversy.
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Defending Pushpa 2 and Indian cinema, she wrote, “Pushpa 2 is also cinema. Why are we so obsessed with idolising the west and running down things that come out of our own country and instantly disqualifying it from being considered as worthy? The same rooted representation and larger than life tone other countries appreciate and our fascinated by our cinema for, we ourselves are embarrassed of. Sad.”
Have a look:
Do you agree with what she has to say?