Rahul Bose
I would like to make a film on the time when Rajiv Gandhi became PM. Like when John F. Kennedy came to power, it was calledCamelot; when Rajiv Gandhi became PM, the country was poised for something new, it was a time pregnant with hope.I am suspicious of the term nationalism. There’s a very, very fragile idea called India. The greatest task ahead for this country is to understand what that idea is. It is an idea that has certain values attached-- like being secular, being accepting, sometimes affectionately and sometimes grudgingly. The idea of India is to do with the emotional intelligence which no other people in the world possess and this emotional intelligence also transcends to Pakistanis andBangladeshis--it is more a regional thing. You cannot just draw the boundaries to any country and say idli-sambar is not served in Sri Lanka or that momos are only eaten this side of Bhutan. So the whole idea of nationalism is extremely spurious in today’s context. It is more important to take the values that are associated with the word called India and to spread them. When a generation begins to discover nationalism it looks at very obvious symbols like thetri-colour painted on the cheeks of young spectators watching Cricket, the celebration and singing of the national anthem in different ways by different singers, the use of national symbols as merchandise like what’s happened to Che or in Cuba. There’s nothing wrong with this, but if it stops there then you are reducing it to mere symbol.
Kay Kay Menon
Even after having got Independence, freedom still eludes us. I would like to be part of a film which explores the true meaning of freedom. It’d probably be fiction and would definitely be open-ended.Nationalism is an "ism" like any other and all "isms" make me apprehensive because they have a way of becoming parochial and narrow. To me to be national is to be universal and to be universal is to be national and any "ism" is an adulteration of that.
Priyanka Chopra
Nationalism doesn’t just imply relating to the political issues facing the country. It’s also about our culture, economy and society. There is so much to India but it hasn’t been tapped to its potential. I can’t live in any other place. India gives me a sense of pride.If I were to make a nationalistic film today, it would be on issues like education and poverty. These two affect every aspect of our lives, lead to unemployment, have a bearing on our economy.
Tabu
I think every possible nationalistic subject has already been filmed inBollywood. To me, personally, nationalism is about being proud of the country. It means zeroing down on what isrequired for us to do as individuals however miniscule it may be. We must contribute in some way to make the country what we want it to be.
Madhur Bhandarkar
I would like to make a film on terrorism since it is not only a national but a global phenomenon and cannot be ignored.Patriotism means being united whatever be the issue that faces our country. Unity is the only way we can deal with any calamity, man-made or natural, be it earthquakes, floods or bomb blasts.
Rani Mukerji
Nationalism is to be in love with all that your country stands for. One must stand by one’s country. I think there is far too much criticism rather than support for the nation. I feel nationalistic when I think of the past, of the freedom struggle, of what our elders went through to get us liberty and even if there is a lot more we can do I still appreciate the fact that we are a free country. Compare us with countries where people have no freedom of expression at all and see how blessed we are.
I have already been part of a film like Mangal Pandey which spoke of how the first seeds ofrebellion against the British were sown in the hearts of millions of Indians when they realised that they had the right to be free. I feel a chill in my heart when I think of that era. There are so many positives that have come from Independence and I feel it would be fantastic to be part of a positive film rather than one which keeps harping on the negatives.
Homi Adjania
Nationalism as a genre of cinema doesn't really appeal to me, I prefer making films on individual chaos, but if I had to make a film on contemporary nationalism/patriotism, I would employ a theme to expose the water wars, tiger trade, indiscriminate de-forestation or any other environment-based issue because we don't seem to be aware of what we are doing to our natural resources and if it's not already, it will really be too late too soon. First they teach you that love is universal and limitless and now you want me to put a border around it? Unfortunately, the word nationalism gets bastardized into concepts like communal violence, caste intolerance, class oppression and other such disgusting realities. We twist it in the name of preserving our "national heritage". We should wear our national identity with pride and most importantly do things in various ways to expose faux nationalist groups. Someone who selflessly, or at the most for self-recognition but nothing more, promotes the interests of the nation in any way whatsoever is my understanding of a nationalist today.
Rahul Khanna
Nationalism for me is a pride in and loyalty to my country and a desire tosee it progress and thrive. As for making a nationalist film, we have a plethoraof wonderful and dramatic stories from our past -- especially during the BritishRaj and struggle for independence. I don't think we'll ever run out of materialfrom that period. A lot of the smaller human stories have yet to be told. Sinceour country's strength is our secularism, I think it would be interesting to doa film that focuses on people from different communities coming together duringpartition, where there was brotherhood, loyalty and unity in a time ofseparation. Like an Indian Schindler's List, perhaps. A patrioticthing I may have done in the last one year? I contributed to a child'seducation. Educating a child is an investment in our country's future and agreat act of patriotism. There are numerous charitable organizations throughwhich one can do this. And, of course, I'd work in a Pakistani film. Ifeel the animosity and hatred between our two nations is more politicallymotivated and exists less on a human level. We are, after all, like siblingsseparated at birth. I have never visited Pakistan but I have heard from friendsand colleagues that the warmth and hospitality they received there wasoverwhelming. As for what the industry can do to foster nationalism/patriotismis concerned, perhaps we can help foster a more realistic self-image. There'stoo much of false pride going around where we believe our country is the bestand everything is perfect and should be celebrated. If we believe that, we willnever move forward. Along with celebrating our virtues and accomplishments, Ithink we also need to be pragmatic and address our shortcomings so we can reachgreater heights. Also, I think we should stop letting religion come in the wayof progress.
Reema Kagti
Each time I hear the National Anthem, I get goosebumps. I think Nationalism is having a lot of pride in oneself and one’s country, a lot of self respect. A subject I’d choose to film would be terrorism. There is a mad growth of terrorist activities and it is a direct fallout of a lack of development and unemployment. I come from Assam and it is there for all to see. You feel the ground is slipping from under your feet and you aren’t doing anything about it.
Kunal Kohli
A subject that interests me is our collective loss of shame. We feel nothing when we see corruption around us, we see rape, we see soldiers dying-- and we feel nothing. We mouth platitudes on the 15th August and 26th January. We talk bad about Pakistan but we don’t pay our taxes, we shit and piss and spit and throw garbage on our streets. We accept it all as a matter of fact. We feel nothing for our country. As a nation we need to regain a sense of shame. What makes me feel patriotic today is when I pay my taxes, when I see clean roads and see the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan or a well kept national monument. Otherwise most of my patriotic feelings are connected with the past.
Amrita Rao
I think cleanliness and aesthetics are things we should address in a film. We are 200 years behind other countries. Lack of cleanliness, throwing things, littering, spitting from the windows of swanky cars--all of it adds up to not caring for your environment and hence for your country. We accept dirt and lack of infrastructure and the fallout is pollution and diseases. We fail to have a system in place, even when we have new constructions. Everything is haphazard. It takes floods to streamline our sidewalks and close the gutters; it takes catastrophes to make us awaken to our own environment. I do have a sense of the nation’s history. My great grandfather wrote a book on Subhash ChandraBose and my grandfather, a freedom fighter, was part of his INA. But the problems facing us today come from within us, we need to address a different set of issues.
Saif Ali Khan
Nationalism to me means having pride in the country. In a country like ours, where people have to deal with problems on a daily basis, escapist cinema is more popular because it takes people away from unpleasant realities. I would like to make a nationalist film that’s relevant without being too heavy, which isentertaining; something on environment, on inter-caste marriages perhaps. I would love to do a Pakistani film. I have no creative biases so long as the subject is interesting....
Farah Khan
In its own way, I think my Main Hoon Na was a nationalistic film, though not in a jingoistic way. It had a pro-peace message for all and it said that India is ready for peace. I thought Swades and Rang de Basanti were excellent nationalistic films. The film Nayak was nationalistic and it dealt with corruption at the roots. If I had to make a film, I’d do it through the eyes of an Indian who has settled abroad and returns to India and is blown away by the corruption and the acceptance of this corruption by his fellow men. It makes me sad that today we can pay a bribe to a cop at a signal and not even feel bad about it; that’s how far gone we are in our acceptance of this‘sab chalta hai’ attitude, which is actually undermining our country.My contribution to nationalism is that I have taken Bollywood abroad. If Brazil is known forits coffee, India is known for Bollywood -- and whether it was choreographing Shakira or working with Andrew LloydWebber, it is my contribution to nationalism. It was talking about what India stands for. I’d love to make a film in Pakistan. I have a Pakistani in my current film--Javed Shaikh. And we are not even aware that he is a Pakistani.
Shreyas Talpade
There are so many things that are nationalistic that need to be addressed today. Foremost among these is the problem of discipline and believing in the system. I have been in Bangkok for 45 days and am astounded at how rules are followed. We in India have this attitude that rules are meant to be broken. This is one good subject for a film too. We follow the rules when we are abroad but in our own country we behave as if ‘everything goes’. We’ll throw wrappers and spit on the road. We’ll pay bribes to get out ofpenalties. I’d love to do a film in Pakistan. We have several Pakistani artistes working here. The people of Pakistan have nothing against us. It’s at the level of politics that things don’t work out.What can our industry do to foster nationalism? Our film industry does try inits own way to give some kind of message through the films. What patriotic thing have I done in the last one year? I have inaugurated and attended a senior citizen’s rally and a rally to collect money for street children to get them educated. Each time I am asked to pitch in for any such cause, I make sure I am there.
Isha Koppikar
I’d like to be part of a film dealing with human rights. Why are there different rules for differentpeople? My dad tells me that earlier in various official forms in the column titled religion they’d fill in’Bharatiya’. We need laws that will bring people together not divide them. I think if I were prime minister, I’d first do away with redundant laws, destroy the baggage that hangs so heavily on us. Of course, I’d do a film in Pakistan. It is tragic that our countrymen are so competent they do so well abroad yet we don’t reach where we should. We don’t know our own rights, we don’t know our own laws so we can’t fight for what is right. We have different laws for different people so there is rivalry, resentment and divisiveness.I do whatever I can towards nationalism. I give of my time to all physically challenged people, cancerpatients , Aids patients etc. Today nationalism for me means to believe in ourselves in our owncapacity.
Nisha Kothari
I’d love to act in a Pakistani film. After all, we all are one people. My way of being nationalistic is to be a good citizen, abide by all the laws, keep my city neat and clean. I would love to be associated with causes but most charities think I am too young and don’t approach me.
Sameera Reddy
Am proud to be an Indian and my natural instinct is to protect my country. Soevery thing I do it is without ever going against my country. The industry couldmake more films that take pride in showcasing the good in India and which canearn accolades from the world over. I'd definitely love like to work in aPakistani film. More than making a nationalistic film, I would like to make ahumane film and more towards spreading awareness
