Abstract
Vilnius UniversityThe present paper concentrates on particular mytho-religious symbolism and mythological structures used in two popular films by famous contemporary Indian film director Ashutosh Gowariker: Lagaan (2001) and Swades (2004). These films are significant in the history of Indian popular cinema not only for their complex problems related to the sensitive topics of anti-colonialism, nationalism and patriotism, but also for their widely used mytho-religious symbolism. My goal in this essay is to analyse these two films, identifying the mythological symbols and mythological structures used in the films, and to see how they organise the films’ narrative and how they are connected with the issues of anti-colonialism, Hindu nationalism, and the construction of (idealised) Indian identity. In this paper I argue that the usage of mythological and mytho-religious symbolism functions as a useful tool for the director to transfer ideas related to national identity, nationalism, and anti-colonialism to the viewer effectively, as well as to express a political and social critique of contemporary India and to construct the images of idealised Indian identity in response.
Highlights
The present paper concentrates on particular mytho-religious symbolism and mythological structures used in two popular films by famous contemporary Indian film director Ashutosh Gowariker: leading actors in both films: Amir Khan (Lagaan) (2001) and Swades (2004)
Deimantas V alan č i ū nas one of the most interesting aspects of Lagaan and Swades is that both films, being so called ‘secular’ or social/drama films, have clearly pronounced mythological and mytho-religious symbolism and compose their narratives through particular mythological structures
My goal in this essay is to identify the mythological symbols used in the films and see how they organise the narrative of the films into particular mythological structures
Summary
The present paper concentrates on particular mytho-religious symbolism and mythological structures used in two popular films by famous contemporary Indian film director Ashutosh Gowariker: Lagaan (2001) and Swades (2004). Mythological structures serve as a background for the director to express his personal political and social critique of contemporary India and to construct images of idealised Indian identity in response.
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