Articles
Reporting & analysis adapted from Gems of Bollywood.
Latest
Clip Dossier: Documenting OTT Platforms' Worst Offences
A research compilation gathering clips from films and web-series cited in a white paper on the misconduct of OTT platforms — from crude stereotypes to disturbing content served up to audiences.
An Open Letter to Alia Bhatt, Gucci's ‘Vegan’ Ambassador
An open letter challenging the contradiction between Alia Bhatt's vegan, pro-animal image and her role as global ambassador for Gucci, a brand PETA has long campaigned against for animal cruelty.
‘Bawaal’ and Bollywood's Habit of Mocking Gujarati Hindus
A review arguing that 'Bawaal' continues Bollywood's pattern of caricaturing the enterprising Gujarati Hindu community, on top of a plot riddled with holes and unmotivated characters.
Why Does Bollywood Cast Only Hindu Men and Families as Toxic?
An analysis of how Hindi cinema repeatedly frames Hindu men as weak or abusive husbands and fathers, drawing on Laxmii, Atrangi Re, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Goodbye and more.
A Satirical Guide to Writing an ‘Off-beat’ Bollywood Film
A tongue-in-cheek guide listing the recycled anti-Hindu tropes that supposedly 'intellectual' art-house films lean on to win festival applause and critical validation.
Why Manoj Muntashir's ‘Adipurush’ Apology Rings Hollow
A close reading of lyricist Manoj Muntashir Shukla's shifting statements before and after 'Adipurush', arguing his apology for the film's crude dialogue was damage control rather than genuine remorse.
Adipurush: An ‘Un-Dharmic’ Retelling of the Ramayan
A critique of Om Raut's 'Adipurush' for stripping the Ramayan of everything Dharmic — from a drab, hellish Lanka to a snorting, humanised Ravana — in a shallow, video-game-like retelling.
Jai Hind (1999): Voyeurism Dressed Up as Patriotism
A short review of Manoj Kumar's 'Jai Hind', highlighting an absurd disrobing scene that betrays Bollywood's fixation on female nudity even within a supposedly patriotic film.
Bollywood's Flood of Hindu Woman–Muslim Man Romances
An investigation into the recurring template pairing Hindu women with Muslim men on screen — from 'Tara vs Bilal' onward — while the reverse pairing is almost never depicted.
Pathaan: Saved by a Pathaan and the ISI from a Hindu ‘Virus’
A review of 'Pathaan', in which an ISI agent helps the hero stop a deadly virus engineered by a Hindu scientist — with a former Indian soldier once again cast as the rogue villain.
‘Tara vs Bilal’ and the Whitewashing of Love Jihad
A review contending that 'Tara vs Bilal' glorifies love jihad and belittles Hindus, casting its Muslim lead as the only trustworthy partner while every Hindu man is weak or fraudulent.
Who Is Bollywood's Real ‘Badshah’ of Creepy Roles?
An examination of how the 'King of Romance' persona normalises stalking and harassment on screen — conduct once cited in an actual courtroom defence abroad.
Anti-Hindu Narratives
Films and shows that stereotype, demonise, or vilify Hindus, their families, and traditions.
Clip Dossier: Documenting OTT Platforms' Worst Offences
A research compilation gathering clips from films and web-series cited in a white paper on the misconduct of OTT platforms — from crude stereotypes to disturbing content served up to audiences.
‘Bawaal’ and Bollywood's Habit of Mocking Gujarati Hindus
A review arguing that 'Bawaal' continues Bollywood's pattern of caricaturing the enterprising Gujarati Hindu community, on top of a plot riddled with holes and unmotivated characters.
Why Does Bollywood Cast Only Hindu Men and Families as Toxic?
An analysis of how Hindi cinema repeatedly frames Hindu men as weak or abusive husbands and fathers, drawing on Laxmii, Atrangi Re, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Goodbye and more.
A Satirical Guide to Writing an ‘Off-beat’ Bollywood Film
A tongue-in-cheek guide listing the recycled anti-Hindu tropes that supposedly 'intellectual' art-house films lean on to win festival applause and critical validation.
Adipurush: An ‘Un-Dharmic’ Retelling of the Ramayan
A critique of Om Raut's 'Adipurush' for stripping the Ramayan of everything Dharmic — from a drab, hellish Lanka to a snorting, humanised Ravana — in a shallow, video-game-like retelling.
Bollywood's Flood of Hindu Woman–Muslim Man Romances
An investigation into the recurring template pairing Hindu women with Muslim men on screen — from 'Tara vs Bilal' onward — while the reverse pairing is almost never depicted.
Pathaan: Saved by a Pathaan and the ISI from a Hindu ‘Virus’
A review of 'Pathaan', in which an ISI agent helps the hero stop a deadly virus engineered by a Hindu scientist — with a former Indian soldier once again cast as the rogue villain.
‘Tara vs Bilal’ and the Whitewashing of Love Jihad
A review contending that 'Tara vs Bilal' glorifies love jihad and belittles Hindus, casting its Muslim lead as the only trustworthy partner while every Hindu man is weak or fraudulent.
Bollywood's Saffron-Clad Sadhus: Always Scheming Villains
A decades-spanning survey of how Hindi cinema casts the sadhu as a lustful, scheming criminal who meets a violent end — a vilification reserved almost exclusively for Hindu ascetics.
How ‘Mother India’ Sliced the Image of Hindu Society
A revisiting of the 1958 classic, tracing its communist and Islamist undertones — the weak Hindu male, the exploitative Baniya-Brahmin nexus, and religion framed as a curse on women.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015): A Review
A review of Kabir Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' contending that beneath its feel-good premise the film plants subplots painting Hindus as bigots while idealising the other side.
Movie Reviews
Full-length critical reviews of individual Bollywood films.
‘Bawaal’ and Bollywood's Habit of Mocking Gujarati Hindus
A review arguing that 'Bawaal' continues Bollywood's pattern of caricaturing the enterprising Gujarati Hindu community, on top of a plot riddled with holes and unmotivated characters.
Jai Hind (1999): Voyeurism Dressed Up as Patriotism
A short review of Manoj Kumar's 'Jai Hind', highlighting an absurd disrobing scene that betrays Bollywood's fixation on female nudity even within a supposedly patriotic film.
Pathaan: Saved by a Pathaan and the ISI from a Hindu ‘Virus’
A review of 'Pathaan', in which an ISI agent helps the hero stop a deadly virus engineered by a Hindu scientist — with a former Indian soldier once again cast as the rogue villain.
‘Tara vs Bilal’ and the Whitewashing of Love Jihad
A review contending that 'Tara vs Bilal' glorifies love jihad and belittles Hindus, casting its Muslim lead as the only trustworthy partner while every Hindu man is weak or fraudulent.
Naseeb (1997): Distorting the Ramayan for Cheap Jibes
A review of the Govinda-starrer 'Naseeb', pointing to a scene that pushes the familiar 'Ram was a misogynist' slur and misrepresents revered figures of the Hindu epics.
How ‘Mother India’ Sliced the Image of Hindu Society
A revisiting of the 1958 classic, tracing its communist and Islamist undertones — the weak Hindu male, the exploitative Baniya-Brahmin nexus, and religion framed as a curse on women.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015): A Review
A review of Kabir Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' contending that beneath its feel-good premise the film plants subplots painting Hindus as bigots while idealising the other side.
Love Jihad on Screen
Stories that romanticise or whitewash coercive and one-sided interfaith relationships.
Bollywood's Flood of Hindu Woman–Muslim Man Romances
An investigation into the recurring template pairing Hindu women with Muslim men on screen — from 'Tara vs Bilal' onward — while the reverse pairing is almost never depicted.
‘Tara vs Bilal’ and the Whitewashing of Love Jihad
A review contending that 'Tara vs Bilal' glorifies love jihad and belittles Hindus, casting its Muslim lead as the only trustworthy partner while every Hindu man is weak or fraudulent.
Sadhus, Sanskrit & Scripture
Portrayals that mock sadhus, Sanskrit, and Hindu epics like the Ramayan and Mahabharat.
Why Manoj Muntashir's ‘Adipurush’ Apology Rings Hollow
A close reading of lyricist Manoj Muntashir Shukla's shifting statements before and after 'Adipurush', arguing his apology for the film's crude dialogue was damage control rather than genuine remorse.
Adipurush: An ‘Un-Dharmic’ Retelling of the Ramayan
A critique of Om Raut's 'Adipurush' for stripping the Ramayan of everything Dharmic — from a drab, hellish Lanka to a snorting, humanised Ravana — in a shallow, video-game-like retelling.
Bollywood's Saffron-Clad Sadhus: Always Scheming Villains
A decades-spanning survey of how Hindi cinema casts the sadhu as a lustful, scheming criminal who meets a violent end — a vilification reserved almost exclusively for Hindu ascetics.
Naseeb (1997): Distorting the Ramayan for Cheap Jibes
A review of the Govinda-starrer 'Naseeb', pointing to a scene that pushes the familiar 'Ram was a misogynist' slur and misrepresents revered figures of the Hindu epics.
Misogyny & Exploitation
The industry's normalisation of objectification, rape-as-spectacle, and abuse of women and minors.
Jai Hind (1999): Voyeurism Dressed Up as Patriotism
A short review of Manoj Kumar's 'Jai Hind', highlighting an absurd disrobing scene that betrays Bollywood's fixation on female nudity even within a supposedly patriotic film.
Who Is Bollywood's Real ‘Badshah’ of Creepy Roles?
An examination of how the 'King of Romance' persona normalises stalking and harassment on screen — conduct once cited in an actual courtroom defence abroad.
How Bollywood Turns Rape Into ‘Entertainment’
An essay tracing how mainstream films package sexual coercion as titillation — from the Liger song 'Aafat' to a long lineage of scenes that deliberately blur consent for the camera.
Insaf ka Tarazu: An Award-Winning Assault on a Minor
A note on how the 1980 film 'Insaaf Ka Tarazu' staged an elaborate scene of a minor being abused — and how, far from protest, its young actor went on to win a Filmfare award.
Celebrity Watch
Calling out the double standards and conduct of Bollywood stars.
An Open Letter to Alia Bhatt, Gucci's ‘Vegan’ Ambassador
An open letter challenging the contradiction between Alia Bhatt's vegan, pro-animal image and her role as global ambassador for Gucci, a brand PETA has long campaigned against for animal cruelty.
Who Is Bollywood's Real ‘Badshah’ of Creepy Roles?
An examination of how the 'King of Romance' persona normalises stalking and harassment on screen — conduct once cited in an actual courtroom defence abroad.
Essays & Investigations
Long-form analysis, satire, and research compilations.
Clip Dossier: Documenting OTT Platforms' Worst Offences
A research compilation gathering clips from films and web-series cited in a white paper on the misconduct of OTT platforms — from crude stereotypes to disturbing content served up to audiences.
An Open Letter to Alia Bhatt, Gucci's ‘Vegan’ Ambassador
An open letter challenging the contradiction between Alia Bhatt's vegan, pro-animal image and her role as global ambassador for Gucci, a brand PETA has long campaigned against for animal cruelty.
A Satirical Guide to Writing an ‘Off-beat’ Bollywood Film
A tongue-in-cheek guide listing the recycled anti-Hindu tropes that supposedly 'intellectual' art-house films lean on to win festival applause and critical validation.
Why Manoj Muntashir's ‘Adipurush’ Apology Rings Hollow
A close reading of lyricist Manoj Muntashir Shukla's shifting statements before and after 'Adipurush', arguing his apology for the film's crude dialogue was damage control rather than genuine remorse.
Bollywood's Flood of Hindu Woman–Muslim Man Romances
An investigation into the recurring template pairing Hindu women with Muslim men on screen — from 'Tara vs Bilal' onward — while the reverse pairing is almost never depicted.
Bollywood's Saffron-Clad Sadhus: Always Scheming Villains
A decades-spanning survey of how Hindi cinema casts the sadhu as a lustful, scheming criminal who meets a violent end — a vilification reserved almost exclusively for Hindu ascetics.
How Bollywood Turns Rape Into ‘Entertainment’
An essay tracing how mainstream films package sexual coercion as titillation — from the Liger song 'Aafat' to a long lineage of scenes that deliberately blur consent for the camera.