Most of India is in the midst of election season, and it’s a time when even the most politically disinclined people take an interest in the subject. If you can’t have enough of politics and also have a taste for cinema, then you have come to the right place. This edition, Corporate Citizen presents the best political dramas in Bollywood
Director Prakash Jha has made a career out of politically themed movies, and Raajneeti is one of the best examples of that. This political drama is a modern telling of the Mahabharata in the context of two rival political families in the Indian hinterland and their murky rise to the top. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Ajay Devgan, Katrina Kaif and Manoj Bajpai, Rajneeti has a stellar ensemble cast and a gripping narrative which will entertain as well as enthrall you.
Farmers’ suicide is one of the major tragedies in India. Peepli Live manages to tackle this complex subject matter artfully in a stinging comic satire. The movie shows the sad state of affairs where farmer suicides are used as a political tool by political parties to get elected, or by opposition parties to challenge the government. The movie manages to convey this mass oppression of farmers in an insightful manner. Watch it for the realistic performances of the relatively unknown but immensely talented cast.
Anil Kapoor stars in this commercial take on changing the system. Even though it had some far fetched ideas as to how to remove corruption from politics, it was a feel good movie and got a great reception from the audience. Amrish Puri was his villainous best as the corrupt Chief Minister of the state who is thrown off by zealous journalist Anil Kapoor using radical thinking and an unconventional way of handling things.
Made both in Hindi and Tamil, ‘Yuva’ was a great coming of age story with a unique story telling style. Made by legendary filmmaker Mani Ratnam, it demonstrated the need for the cleansing of the muck in Indian politics and need of youth participation in politics. It was an example of how student politics can play a positive role in democracy and how its influence can trigger a much needed change in the system.
These movies are available on Hotstar for free, or can be watched on Amazon Prime and Netflix.
by Neeraj Varty
