CNA Jan 26, 2023
As India celebrates its 74th Republic Day, controversy in the country continues over the latest Shah Rukh Khan Bollywood film and a BBC documentary. These have triggered a public outcry and reignited debates about press freedom and freedom of expression in the country. The Bollywood superstar’s new blockbuster Pathaan is attracting a lot of controversy, with attacks and protests by right-wing Hindu groups. The main objection of Hindu groups is that the lead actress, Deepika Padukone, wears a saffron-coloured bikini during a sequence of a song. The colour is considered to be a symbol of spirituality in Hinduism. The documentary, meanwhile, looks at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role as chief minister of Gujarat during deadly riots in the state in 2002.
Transition Studies 