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Filmmaker on Patriotism: Different Stories, Same Heart
21 Sep
Summary
- Patriotism is explored through varied styles in Raazi and Dhurandhar.
- Director highlights that portrayal depends on story and character actions.
- Raazi focuses on sacrifice and moral dilemmas; Dhurandhar on action and violence.
Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has shed light on the distinct ways patriotism is depicted in her 2018 film 'Raazi' and Aditya Dhar's 'Dhurandhar.' While both films center on patriotism, they employ contrasting narrative techniques.
'Raazi,' starring Alia Bhatt, portrayed patriotism through the personal sacrifices, emotional conflicts, and moral quandaries of an undercover agent in Pakistan. The film emphasized introspection and difficult choices over large-scale action sequences.
In contrast, 'Dhurandhar,' a two-part franchise featuring Ranveer Singh, adopts a high-octane action and violence-driven approach to its espionage narrative. This approach results in a markedly different cinematic language for exploring patriotic themes.
Gulzar explained that the divergence in portrayal stems from the story's requirements, not from varying degrees of patriotic sentiment. She noted that one depiction isn't inherently superior to the other, as patriotism and prayers can be expressed without loudness or a singular method.
She further clarified that there are no prescribed limits to portraying patriotism, as it depends on the character and the story's established world. For 'Raazi,' while Sehmat's devotion to India was unwavering, the film explored the ethical boundaries of her actions.
