Irrfan Khan’s son Babil Khan points out how little respect Bollywood has in world cinema
Late actor Irrfan Khan’s son Babil recently penned a heartfelt note, in which he slams Bollywood’s ruthless sexism and same-old conventional representations of patriarchy.
Babil spoke about how his father was defeated for almost all of his life at the box office, by hunks with six pack abs, despite his efforts to ‘elevate the art of acting in the adverse conditions’ prevailing in Bollywood.
Being a student of cinema, Babil also pointed out that Bollywood has little respect in world cinema.
He posted two candid pictures of Irrfan on his Instagram page. One of them features the late actor holding a few-months old Babil in his arms. In another snap, Irrfan is seen sleeping peacefully with an arm around his pet dog.
He wrote, “You know one of the most important things my father taught me as a student of cinema? Before I went to film school, he warned me that I’ll have to prove my self as Bollywood is seldom respected in world cinema and at these moments I must inform about the Indian cinema that’s beyond our controlled Bollywood.
“Unfortunately, it did happen.
“Bollywood was not respected, no awareness of 60’s – 90’s Indian cinema or credibility of opinion.
“There was literally one single lecture in the world cinema segment about Indian cinema called ‘Bollywood and Beyond’, that too gone through in a class full of chuckles. it was tough to even get a sensible conversation about the real Indian cinema of Satyajit Ray and K. Asif going.
“Because we, as the Indian audience, refused to evolve.
“My father gave his life trying to elevate the art of acting in the adverse conditions of noughties Bollywood and alas, for almost all of his journey, was defeated in the box office by hunks with six pack abs delivering theatrical one-liners and defying the laws of physics and reality, photoshopped item songs, just blatant sexism and same-old conventional representations of patriarchy (and you must understand, to be defeated at the box office means that majority of the investment in Bollywood would be going to the winners, engulfing us in a vicious circle).
“Because we as an audience wanted that, we enjoyed it, all we sought was entertainment and safety of thought, so afraid to have our delicate illusion of reality shattered, so unaccepting of any shift in perception. All effort to explore the potential of cinema and its implications on humanity and existentialism was at best kept by the sidelines,” continued Babil in his post.
“Now there is a change, a new fragrance in the wind.
“A new youth, searching for a new meaning.
“We must stand our ground, not let this thirst for a deeper meaning be repressed again. A strange feeling beset when Kalki was trolled for looking like a boy when she cut her hair short, that is pure abolishment of potential. (Although I resent that Sushant’s demise has now become a fluster of political debates, but if a positive change is manifesting, in the way of the Taoist, we embrace it),” Babil concluded his post on a positive note.
