People are fuming as Shah Rukh Khan and Emraan Hashmi’s, new Netflix show ‘Bard Of Blood’ depicts Pakistan in a negative light yet again.
As we all watch matters between India and Pakistan unfold, one of the things that’s proven to be a disappointing revelation is the blind “patriotism” that has gripped Bollywood celebrities. Their brand of patriotism is far from glory songs or hoisting their national flag.
For some, like Priyanka Chopra, it includes cheering for war and then defending it.
For others, like Muslim actors Shah Rukh Khan and Emraan Hashmi, it consists of creating a narrative that is anti-Pakistan and perpetuates tired, old stereotypes.
This narrative, backed fully by and to be viewed on Netflix, is called ‘Bard of Blood’ and is yet another story about Indian spies infiltrating Pakistan. This time around, the location is Balochistan.
The fact that Bollywood has little to no understanding of how Pakistanis function has been obvious since the beginning. Adding a ‘janab’ every now and then doesn’t make someone a Muslim or Pakistani terrorist. Indians never got this memo, though. Not even SRK and Emraan, who happen to be Muslims themselves. Research, of course, isn’t a priority when you’re spewing anti-Pakistan rhetoric.
If you haven’t yet seen the trailer, I’ll spare you the details. Again, it caters to the same jingoistic vitriol that one can expect from Bollywood at a time like this. Three Indian spies set out on a “suicide mission,” with Emraan Hashmi taking up the role of an excommunicated RAW agent, to rescue four other RAW agents captured in Balochistan.
The trailer of our first @netflix series #BardOfBlood is here. A thrilling tale of espionage, vengeance, love and duty. Hope u enjoy it…@NetflixIndia @RedChilliesEnt @emraanhashmi @_GauravVerma @BilalS158 @ribhudasgupta pic.twitter.com/aftLjq3BA1
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 22, 2019
The storyline seems like one that’s been done to death. The dialogs, from what I can tell from the trailer, are lazy and lack originality. It’s very clearly a piece of work that actors like SRK and Hashmi had to sign on to stay safe within their country.
Instead of choosing to take a stand, they readily, and with what seems to be an immense degree of pride, placed their names front and center.
Of course, Pakistanis haven’t taken too kindly to the trailer. The general sentiment is more of the same – two actors, who have massive followings, in India and globally, chose to create this piece of work, feeding into the idea of Pakistan being a terrorist wasteland.
Producer Khan, lead Hashmi, wroter Siddiqi.
As panic & fear has taken over Indian Muslims with Kashmir lockdown & NRC in Assam, Bollywood Muslims are busy making jingoistic content. https://t.co/KJ9pRNp2If
— omer (@intellectroll) August 22, 2019
Thank u Quaid e Azam for Pakistan. Today coward Muslim like @iamsrk who love his money & fame have attempted to prove he is real hindu loving Indian by producing #BardOfBlood and we here in Pak land lives with full freedom without covering up genocide of Kashmiri Muslims. Thanks https://t.co/dYc82USM9H
— Mah E Doraan ماہ ِ دوراں (@MaheDoraan) August 23, 2019
Take ISI and Fake Islamic Terrorists out of Bollywood and they will lose 90% of their content.@RTAluvzAfridi #BardOfBlood
— Ahsan Chaddi (@iamchaddi) August 22, 2019
It’s ironic that the man who once made the line, “My name is Khan and I’m not a terrorist” famous, is now showing Pakistanis in a negative light to please the mob mentality in India. The irony was not lost on people.
My name is Khan and I have to please the Hindutva lynch mobs to to survive
Sarkari musalmans like Shah Rukh, Emraan Hashmi & Bilal Siddiqi are modern day Abraham Gancwajch, Chaim Rumkowski, Calel Perechodnik and they dont even know it. #BardOfBlood https://t.co/ZhgWOwDWab
— Asfandyar Bhittani (@BhittaniKhannnn) August 22, 2019
Wow Wow Wow!
Mister Khan you are showing the true face of Muslims.Bollywood will always make Anti-Muslims Movies and the funniest….
Oh! The saddest thing is that they use Muslims to promote the hate for Muslims.
But Muslim Actors in Bollywood are dumb.#BardOfBlood https://t.co/z3ncJVCQaa— Saba (@ItsSabaZainab) August 22, 2019
#BardOfBlood
Bollywood is all abt hate content now they use Muslim actors to promote content against muslims and these muslims actors have to prove that they are patriot promote anti muslims movies and nw series slap on the face of Pakistanis who are actually fan of these actors— Sadia Shaukat (@SadiaShaukat10) August 22, 2019
SRK has always been criticized by BJP political leaders and is claimed to be a Pro-Pakistani which got him into some sort of trouble and effected his movies and stardom.
So he comes up with this stupid web series #BardOfBlood produced by his production house.
Get a life yaar— Ahsan Chaddi (@iamchaddi) August 22, 2019
People also called out Netflix for backing a project like this.
Lol what is this rubbish. For the folks at @netflix: lots very talented Pakistani filmmakers want to tell stories about Pakistan that don’t exoticize conflict and strife // stop with the irresponsible content gatekeeping it’s disgusting https://t.co/5qzldaGZ14
— Aiman Rizvi (@Aimanfrizvi) August 22, 2019
Given the current situation, it was also highlighted how such projects go as far as to aid in promoting acts of Muslim genocide.
There is a history of India, Bollywood is used to spread hatred against Muslims. Muslim genocide is always promoted through it. Muslims actors are always forced to promote hatred against Pakistan to prove themselves as patriotic indians.
Now here is another drama.
#BardOfBlood pic.twitter.com/FPbO1wMM6o— shama Noreen (@shamanoreen_) August 23, 2019
Basically, people are pissed.
Please make series on real events.
1. When your RAW agent (Kalbhushan) was spreading terrorism and then got caught by ISI.
2. When your pilot Abhinandan savagely beaten by locals after Pakistan shoots down indian jet. #BardOfBlood https://t.co/d97aO7Opyx— Q U E E N 👑 (@QueenAfshan) August 23, 2019
#BardOfBlood is so stereotypical. Again propoganda series against Pakistan . When they gonna stop making this kinda shit? It so disgusting .
— javeria (@javeriaalii) August 22, 2019
It can’t be said that this isn’t expected from Bollywood. It is. We’ve seen many high-profile actors, directors, and writers succumb to it. This hurts more, of course, given the current situation, and the fact that two high-profile Muslim actors are involved, perpetuating stereotypes that in no way benefit the religion to which they also belong.
You can argue that art does not see religion, but if your art justifies or promotes the oppression or ostracization of a community, it’s straight-up propaganda. And if you’re going to justify propaganda – well, then Bollywood, “don’t embarrass yourself.”
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Cover image via Netflix India