India-Pakistan tension infuses life into Bhojpuri film industry

Patna: Relations between the two Asian neighbours who fought four wars since 1947 may have touched a new low in recent months over various issues, but that has only proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Bhojpuri film industry.

Film makers have gone on to make a number of movies focusing on Pakistan, and catering to the interest of the masses.

The main theme of many films remains a love story, with the bride being from Pakistan.

The greater the tension along the border, the better the ticket sales — so the reasoning of film makers goes.

A number of such movies have flooded the film industry in recent weeks.

Some of these being — ‘Le Aaaib Dulhania Pakistan Se’ (I will bring bride from Pakistan), ‘Dulhan Chahin Pakistan Se’ (I want a bride from Pakistan), ‘Patna Se Pakistan’ (Patna to Pakistan), ‘Allahabad Se Islamabad’ (Allahabad to Islamabad).

Film critics too are amazed at the success of such low-budget movies earning good profits. Earlier, the Bollywood was focusing on such themes only but lately Bhojiwood has set a new record in making such movies.

“Producers are suddenly turning towards such particular-themed movies as they are doing good business. What is important, such movies click even after signing new stars. That means double profits — while the pictures make good earning at the box office, the producers have to pay less to the debutants,” a Bhojpuri film expert Uday Bhagat was quoted as saying in local media.

The Bhojpuri cinema which was gasping for breath got a sudden boost after actors like Ravi Kishan, considered “super star” of Bhojpuri films and Manoj Tiwari made their entry into Bhojiwood in early 2000.

They made several entertaining movies which revived the Bhojpuri industry.

Subsequently, many established Bollywood stars, such as Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Ajay Devgan, Jackie Shroff, Mithun Chakraborty and Nagma got attracted towards the Bhojpuri films.

But of late the industry was facing hard time with both the Bhojpuri stars Kishan and Tiwari giving less time owing to them joining active politics.

While Tiwari is a Lok Sabha member from North East Delhi in addition to being the president of Delhi unit of BJP, Kishan joined the saffron party in February this year in the presence of national president Amit Shah.

The industry caters to over 150 million people who speak the Bhojpuri languages in twin states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.