Vilification And Mockery Of Sanskrit in Bollywood

Bollywood uses Sanskrit mantras not just for cheap humour but also to push a vile agenda that Hinduism is the religion of vicious criminals (rape, murder, beheading) that must be abandoned without any second thoughts.

Sanskrit mantras are used as background scores during violent crime scenes or uncivilised humour.

It is beyond belief that the Indian society has allowed the industry to continue pushing such denigrating agenda.

Gems of Bollywood has proven in several articles and tweets that Bollywood has, for decades, been attacking the Sanatan Dharma relentlessly and glorifying Abrahamic faiths to probably coerce their audience to leave their dharmic folds. But what is truly appalling is the degree of hate Bollywood wallahs have for Hindus. 

Here are a brief list of clips that back this conclusion:

In Choti Si Baat (1976), Amol Palekar grimaces while using Sanskrit words while practising a speech to woo a woman. He replaces them with Urdu, hoping the “better word” will charm her. 

Hindi’s great literary icon Bhartendu Harishchandra described Urdu as the language of dancers and prostitutes, but Bollywood has subtly pushed it as a polished language while shaming the language of wisdom (Sanskrit).

"Not Sanskrit. Urdu is classy language"

This is how the language of brothels was subtly pushed and language of wisdom was sidelined by Urduwood.

Award-winning film Chhoti Si Baat by BR Chopra and Basu Chatterjee "inspired" from School of Scoundrelspic.twitter.com/dBR5Z3eAva

This agenda wasn’t reserved for the language alone. They also targeted holy men who promoted using the ancient language. 

Bollywood doesn’t see Sadhu or Sant as an ascetic who has taken the complex path to attain moksha through practices guided by their guru. In the films, he is always a saffron-clad monster who is lusty, greedy, and a wicked drunkard. 

This propaganda has gone on for so long that anyone clad in saffron is seen as the villain in the popular discourse. Case in point – the lynching of Palghar Sadhus in broad daylight and the deliberate overlooking of the incident by the mainstream media. 

Look at this gem from a film called ‘Zakhmi Sher’ (1984). Rahi Masoom Raza wrote the dialogues of this film, probably knowing well that he couldn’t have taken such liberties in portraying holy men from his religion.

Sanskrit Mantras play in background as dhongi sadhu indulges in wine, women and crime with "Kalyanam Astu"

Film Zakhmi Sher.

Dialogs by Rahi Masoom Raza.
Director Dasari Narayana Rao who was Coal Minister of State during Coal Scam of UPApic.twitter.com/G7ZmR5gxdo

You can read more about Bollywood’s portrayal of saffron-clad men.

The villains in their films were always tilak-dhaari, janeu-wearing middle aged men. However, as the script writer would insinuate, their religion could’t curb their evil nature, and these men could hatch sinister plans while praying.

Look at this scene from a 1989 film, ‘Ilaaka’, written by Javed Siddiqui, starring Amrish Puri (who was perhaps the top choice to be cast for such roles in the 80s and 90s). This was the stereotypical portrayal of a devout Hindu villain in such ‘formula films’:

"Shiv Shambhu. Shiv Shambhu. Shiv Shambhu” while discussing a murder plan

Film Ilaaka by Izaz Selwal. Written by Javed Siddiqui.

Will the filmmakers dare to make a similar scene with holy chants of other religions? pic.twitter.com/RV9OLP4shp

It seems like a deliberate trick to lead the audience to believe that Hindu rituals only bring out foul and condemnable things in people. Bollywood antagonists are at their villainous peak while doing havan. Here is a scene from Mard (1998) in which a Hindu villain is sanctioning a beheading while doing the havan-pooja. This film stars Mithun Chakraborthy whose filmography is rich with such Hinduphobia.

pic.twitter.com/NBAY5NXWXr

All A-list actors have starred in such agenda-driven films. Shah Rukh Khan, who has made a career out of creepy stalker roles, has also acted in films that vilify Sanskrit mantras. Here is a scene from Karan Arjun (1995) in which two brothers (him and Salman Khan) join forces to take down the “evil” Hindu Kali-worshipper Durjan Singh. Once again, the villainous devout tilak-daari Hindu was played by Amrish Puri.

Words like Shaitan ka saaya followed by Kaali ki puja shot in a dark setting with menacing music and Sanskrit mantras
– scene introducing dreaded villain in film Karan Arjun

Bollywood openly equated Hindu rituals with Shaitan (Satan). Gullible janta made the film superhit https://t.co/g6rxkDJj2y

Anwar Khan wrote this film, and Rakesh Roshan directed it. The team decided it wasn’t enough to show Durjan Singh as a greedy murderer. It was also essential to show how religious this character was so that the audience would be sub-consciously disparaging towards anyone who worships Maa Kali.

Salman Khan, too, has a rich filmography with scenes mocking Hindus and their beliefs. Here is a clip from his film Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) along with Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar, in which Sanskrit chants (that too from the Rudra Adhyay of the sacred Yajurveda) is used as a background track for a glamorous fashion shoot and luxury behaviour. 

pic.twitter.com/vC5s3TAVfi

We highly doubt if the film’s director David Dhawan would have had the audacity to use the Aayats for such scenes. The “We artists respect all religions” platitude is not meant for Sanatan Dharma.

We recommend you read our review of his film Ready (2011). 

It is interesting to notice that even if the film has an Urdu name, all that is immoral in the film would be associated with Hinduism. Here is an example from Wajood (1998):

Criticism and Review as per Section 52 of Indian Copyright Act, 1957. pic.twitter.com/h5m0uQk5IY

Mantras are used by Hindus to communicate with the Supreme forces in nature and the preservation of Dharma. They are considered so sacred that the person uttering them has to adhere to a specific lifestyle practice to qualify for that duty. Even the person listening to the mantras adheres to decorum, submitting to the holy atmosphere.

However, the Bollywood wallahs decided that anything associated with Sanatan Dharma, including their festivals, must be besmirched so that people don’t associate important days in Hinduism with anything auspicious. All horrible things seem too happen during Hindu festivals in Urduwood films.

'Om Swaha' after 'Khoon ki Holi'.

Why Urduwood is so reluctant to chant "Allah O Akbar"?pic.twitter.com/Rn4i58UtPG

But did you notice how the chant is placed in the scenes above? They evoke a sense of suspicion and fear even before the crime happens. That is the subconscious imprint left in the audience after watching such content. Bollywood went above and beyond to ensure the audience doesn’t link these chants to supplication, bhakti and invocation.

And why wouldn’t they if these movies were extolled by the left-leaning, Hindu-hating critics and their coterie with various accolades and awards?

Antarmahal (2005) is a Bengali movie starring Jackie Shroff, Abhishek Bachchan, Soha Ali Khan and Roopa Ganguly. It is based on a story called ‘Protima’, written by Marxist Tarashankar Bandhopadhyay, in which Hindu society is portrayed as a toxic patriarchal system that abuses women in different ways. A predictable agenda from a Marxist, isn’t it? 

In a scene, a mantra-chanting pundit beds the lady of the household he visits while her husband tries to impregnate his second wife. We wonder why these self-appointed reformists of society won’t focus on any other religion. 

While Bhuban (Jackie Shroff) & Yashomati (Soha Ali Khan) are trying to conceive, Mahamaya (Roopa Ganguli) fulfills carnal desires of Pandit reciting mantras nearby

Antarmahal (2005) by Rituparno Ghosh based on story by Marxist Tarashankar Bandhyopadhyaypic.twitter.com/LmIoJWykuJ

This film was an Indo-Bangladeshi venture. Such themes can be expected from filmmakers from a country that persecutes Hindu minorities regularly.

Even though offensive, it is one thing that Bollywood wants to run down Hindus. It projects another level of maliciousness when it suggests that non-Hindus are superior to the Dharmic faithful. The most popular films in Bollywood would have a stereotypical devout Muslim guy who is secretly good because of his faith.

Example:

A namazi doesn't drink or smoke.
Hero does, with backdrop of chants of Om

When gangster is on a cold-blooded murder spree, Mahabharat shlokas play in backdrop, drawing comparison with Abhimanyu

Film Vaastav (1999) written by Imtiyaz Hussainpic.twitter.com/hdEnFUfCAC

What was the reason for showing that the Hindu is less committed to his religion than the other guy? Were such films funded by the conversion mafia?

In Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar (2011), the clip below quickly summarises the Urduwood attitude towards two religions. Notice how Hinduism and Islam have been portrayed in the film:

Divine dedication when making Sufi fusion with Ustad Khan.

But mocking with Hindu chants when severing contract with a Hindu Dhingra!
Why Sanskrit and Swaha? Why no Ali Maula here?

Rockstar by Imtiaz Alipic.twitter.com/otUG4jUNA4

Ranbir Kapoor starred in another Hinduphobic film called ‘Shamshera’ last year in which the barbaric villain was, as usual, a tilak-dhaari Hindu named Shuddh Singh (Sanjay Dutt). Even though Gems of Bollywood pointed out the blatant Hindu hatred in the film using several tweets, many critics were livid that the film bombed at the box office.

Who says Bollywood has changed? Even in the times of Sar Tan Se Juda, they continue to repeat the decades-old trope of Sanskrit shlokas as backdrop of cruel scenes, and shikha-dhari, tilak-dhari, upper-caste men as most cruel, selfish, inhumane

From a #Shamshera review pic.twitter.com/Lied6xRk17

Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan starred in Luck (2009) with Shruti Hassan and Imran Khan. It is a forgettable remake of the Spanish film Intacto. But, as we know, Bollywood can’t even plagiarise without injecting some Hinduphobia into the film. Notice the context in which Shiv Stotra is used in the clip. The rapist murderer is called Raghav Raghuvaran.

pic.twitter.com/yjM3byGSiR

We would also like to draw attention towards how Bollywood projects Hinduism under the pretext of making films with progressive themes, like feminism and homosexuality. Starting from the title, these films are offensive.

Here is an example of a women-oriented film that supposedly celebrates powerful women.

Rename the character Durga Maa
Sanskrit Shlokas in background
Trishul
THEN
Call Durgamati a Chudail (Witch) & Kutiya (Bitch)

Dialogs by @ReallySwara buddy @RaviRandhawa77 from JNU (celebrates Mahishasur Divas)

This is #Durgamati by @akshaykumar, T Seriespic.twitter.com/a6dD4OWs5o

Observe how Sanskrit chants have been used in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020), a film that supposedly fights homophobia (only among Hindus). Much like Antarmahal and many other films, this movie uses chants as a background score for lust and mating.

Two men start smooching in wedding. Family pretends it is religious Hindu ritual by reciting Sanskrit shlokas

Why Urduwood never recites Arabic ayats in such scenes?

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017) on erectile dysfunction that won Filmfare for best dialogs!pic.twitter.com/9Ng5JC4LAx

The most prominent such misuse of Sanskrit chants were in this OTT series called ‘Aashram’ that was criticised by Gems of Bollywood for blatantly vicious Hinduphobia.

#Aashram review 6:
How to turn sacred Hindu chants and mantras as demonic and menacing? Use them as background scores to show saffron-clad sadhus committing murders and rapes.
Aashram ticks all checkboxes in Hindu hate.
Then #PalgharSadhuLynching happens pic.twitter.com/Mhg1UJO3Xz

Here is a scene from Luka Chupi (2019) in which a reluctant couple has a pseudo-wedding ceremony in their sleepwear. A baffoon-ish friend conducts this wedding by streaming chants online on his phone, burning trash for havan and using shoelaces for mangalsutra. 

What are Hindu wedding rituals but some silly mantras that can be played on YouTube and fire created by burning trash with tying together the pajama strings?

Film Luka Chuppi (2019) featuring @kartikaaryan and @kritisanon.pic.twitter.com/L3kBhHQ7ky

The film was a box-office success. People who flocked to the theatres for this film were insensitive to such mud-slinging, probably because of decades of propaganda content that brainwashed them.

The consequences of this unchecked violation of Sanatan Dharma rituals are as clear as day. Small children go on so-called reality shows and participate in Hindu-mocking themes set to suggestive choreography. It is hard to blame them for such performances as their decision are taken by their parents, who consumed and enjoyed filthy content thrown by Bollywood for years.

pic.twitter.com/Aqz9HywGuw

Youngsters find and pay for merriment in songs that deliberately make fun of the faith that their ancestors once followed and defended.

#HindusUnderAttackInIndia Mahisasur Mardini being played by DJ at a night club in Kolkata. People are drunk and dancing to its beats. Kuch toh respect rakho. These subtle attacks on hindu culture is common in woke hindus. I wish I cud have stopped this DJ. @GemsOfBollywood pic.twitter.com/ZQv9umVGwD

It is surprising, and a bit shameful, that respect for these sacred verses has been upheld in Hollywood more than in Indian popular media culture. This soundtrack from Matrix 3 uses chants without mocking Hinduism.

Sanskrit mantras used in Matrix 3 soundtrack.

Source – Eleshar24 on YouTubepic.twitter.com/rGCWC0HdV1 https://t.co/F2lYdcWwX6

Chants and Mantras have a context and specific condition under which they must be practised. At Gems of Bollywood, we fully accept that religion is a personal choice, and the Bollywood coterie need not be made up of practising Hindus. However, even non-practising Hindus have no business attacking and demonising practices that are important to others, if not them.