There has been an overdose of Punjabi in Bollywood, and it's been that way for quite some time now. So long that it's making me retch. No offense, my dear Punjabi friends. Punjabi is a fine language and with an equally mesmerizing culture to back it. But there are surely more cultures and languages in India that can be showcased?
Heck! We are the most diverse country ever in the world with a shocking number of 415 living languages spoken in India and an equal number of distinctly different cultures to showcase. But no, we are going to be stuck on just Punjabi.
Think DDLJ, Kal Ho Na Ho, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham ..If you're saying that these are just the Chopras and Johars, how about Namastey London..Bhagban, Muhjse Shaadi Karoge, Bride and Prejudice, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom….The list is simply endless.
And it doesn’t stop simply at films; go on to music and almost all the popular songs are set to the Bhangra beat or the usual Balle Balle (read dhol) background score. Try and see songs from any movie in the last decade, you will realize what I mean. How about giving us a taste of rustic Bihari folk or Rajasthani panihari music or the local flavour of the pahadis, Bollywood? As Bollywood is capturing audiences all across the country, it has the responsibility to be more inclusive of languages and regional cultures.
And on top of this, they want Bollywood to be called the ‘Indian Film Industry '. Not yet, until you grow to be better. Include more actors from other industries and not just female actors who meet certain criteria. And ya sure, first try and identify the four South Indian states correctly, will you?
But who cares if a Madrasi female sitting in the audience is disappointed by the end of a film? We’re too sensitive, and we don’t matter anyway. And oh, everyone knows this doesn't fall under any category of racism.