Friday, 13 December 2024
Friday, 13 December 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is watching The Sabarmati Report on Monday, the day the movie’s star, Vikrant Massey, seemed to have announced a retirement from films.
The prime minister will go to the Balyogi Auditorium in the Parliament Library Building to watch the movie, PTI reported quoting unnamed officials.
The film is about the 2002 Sabarmati Express coach-burning incident, in which 59 people died and which was followed by the Gujarat riots when Modi was the chief minister of the state.
Critics have mostly panned the film. It is also performing way below what Massey’s breakout film, 12th Fail, did.
Expectedly, Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah have praised it. BJP-ruled states are falling over themselves in the rush to give it tax-free status. On November 17, Modi had reposted on his X handle a glowing post about the film.
“Well said. It is good that this truth is coming out, and that too in a way common people can see it. A fake narrative can persist only for a limited period of time. Eventually, the facts will always come out!” Modi had posted.
As the prime minister heads to the movie theatre, The Telegraph Online takes a look at the other movies Narendra Modi has watched in the past. Of course, these are movies that Modi has admitted in public to watching or there have been news reports about them.
What does the list say about the kind of films Modi likes to watch? We’ll leave that for you to analyse.
Titanic (3D Version): So, Modi likes mush!
In 2013, Narendra Modi, still not prime minister, surprised many by watching Titanic in its 3D version at an Imax theatre in Ahmedabad. The movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, is known for its love story set against the sinking of the Titanic. Per reports, Modi watched about 20 minutes of the film while wearing 3D glasses.
Paa: Modi is a fan of Amitabh Bachchan
In 2010, Modi watched Paa along with the movie's main man, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan. The film, featuring Bachchan as a young boy with a rare genetic condition, had received critical acclaim and won multiple National Awards. Modi’s admiration for Bachchan was evident during this watch. Shortly after, Big B was named Gujarat’s brand ambassador.
A Wednesday: Modi likes sideways takes on terrorism
In 2008, Modi attended a special screening of A Wednesday with actor Anupam Kher. The movie, which focuses on an ordinary man’s fight against terrorism. Modi praised the film, saying it had the power to inspire humanitarian efforts against terrorism. We aren’t sure whether Modi is a fan of the film’s main man, Naseeruddin Shah.
The Light: Swami Vivekanand. Naren watches Naren
A self-professed follower of Swami Vivekananda, Modi watched The Light: Swami Vivekanand in 2013 during a special screening in Gandhinagar. The film highlighted the life and teachings of the spiritual leader. Modi has often expressed admiration for Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy.
Has Narendra Modi watched Gully Boy?
During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi used popular movie references to urge Bollywood celebrities to encourage voter participation.
In a tweet addressed to Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, and Vicky Kaushal, Modi wrote: "Apna Time Aa Gaya Hai and it is time to turn up with high Josh to a voting centre near you."
This tweet cleverly combined lines from Gully Boy (Apna Time Aaega) and Uri: The Surgical Strike (How's the Josh?), showing his – or his tweet-writer’s – awareness of recent blockbuster hits.
Modi may have also seen Andaz Apna Apna
To Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, Modi referenced the cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna.
He wrote, "It is time to inspire and motivate youth in your own Andaz to vote so that we can strengthen Apna Democracy & Apna Country."
Has he seen K3G too?
In another tweet, Modi reached out to Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Karan Johar, saying, "Because... it's all about loving your democracy and strengthening it."
It referenced the tagline "It's all about loving your family" from the Karan Johar film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
