“Mujhko.... pehechan lo.... main hoon don.....”
Over the years Bollywood has had the craze of coming up with
films depicting the character ‘DON’. Stories of few have been fictitious, while
few others have very closely presented the actual life of gangsters like Dawood
Ibrahim and other wanted mafias. Such films have either focused their love life
or their notorious activities or both. Girls dancing, liquor flowing, cigarettes
lighted, browbeat song and the don donning black shades with his charismatic
personality impressing his close ones and intimidating his ‘dushmans’ is what
is shown in these movies.
But the bottom line is that, the gangsters on whom these are
based are criminals involved in numerous murders, kidnappings, smuggling and
even terrorist activities. They have blood of many innocents on their hands.
Showing their lives in movies in such light implicitly glorifies the
daredevilry of such ‘much wanted’ criminals. Stressing on dialogues like ‘don
ko pakarna mushkil hi nahin namumkin hain’ are satire on the whole country and
its security forces. Although India has failed in getting hold of such underworld
dons, quipping on India’s inability shouldn’t be entertained on the big screen.
Showcasing them as heroes promotes the growing culture that good is bad and bad
is good. Powerful characters shown can often make one desire for such status.
But one should remind himself of the antisocial activities which these
sociopaths use their power for.
Any filmmaker has the complete right of expression through
his/her film. But they should once spare a thought for the victims and their
families whose lives have been unsettled by activities of men depicted in their
‘don’ movies. These gangsters who are well settled outside India enjoy immunity
from arrest due to various reasons. Getting to know about such films further
mocks the image of India in their minds.
There are numerous inspirational stories and lives which can
be portrayed in films. India has seen many heroes in various fields. Many of
them are unsung and forgotten. Sharing
their life in form of a biopic does justice to their good work. Recently the
film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag based on Milkha Singh’s life was one of them. A good
cast and a good filmmaking team can make a hit movie from such inspirational
stories and simultaneously provide a much needed message to the society.
Please Bollywood don't shoot DON movies.
