Hindi films and songs which courted controversy

Many of the Hindi films and sings have courted controversy and have drawn flak from various sessions of the society. Given below is a listing of a few films that have been at the center of these storms. 

Vishwaroopam: Kamal Haasan starrer Vishwaroopam faced trouble when a ban was demanded by Tamil Nadu and Muslim groups for hurting religious sentiments. Apparently, theatre owners where asked not to screen the movie. However, the movie was screened everywhere except Tamil Nadu.

Khuddar: Karisma Kapoor dressed in a little red number, singing 'sexy sexy mujhe log bolein' was little too much for the Indian sensuality! After the song became a hit, the controversial word 'sexy' was changed to 'baby'.

Aaja Nachle: The title song of Madhuri Dixit's comeback film saw itself courting controversy as some Dalit groups objected to the use of the word mochi (cobbler). Some states banned the film before the producers gave a written apology and removed the line from the song.

Meenaxi: The song ‘Noor-Un-Ala’ from MF Husain's movie got into trouble with some of its lyrics as some Muslim organizations objected to them being lifted straight from the Koran. An enraged Husain took the movie off from theatres following the protests.

Kaminey: The word 'Teli' from this song of Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminay was beeped out after the Teli Samaj objected to its use.

Khalnayak: 'Choli ke peeche' song from the movie, which clearly say, 'what's behind the blouse?' became a rage with the audience, even as people protested that the lyrics were obscene.

Dabangg: The controversy over the 'Zandu Balm' song in the film Dabangg snowballed into a huge controversy between the ointment company and the film producer.   Zandu Balm was used in the song “Munni Badnaam Hui” and finally both the parties rapproched out in public glare.

Dabangg – II: In the aftermath of the horrific gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in Delhi, and the many more rapes and sexual assaults reported thereafter, the National Commission for Women has sent a notice to producer and director Arbaaz Khan for the offensive lyrics (e.g. ‘Laundiya Patayenge Missed Call Se’) in the item song.

Chakravyuh: Tata and Birla sent legal notices to director Prakash Jha stating that the use of the companies name in the song "Mehngai" hurt their reputation. The Supreme Court of India ruled that the lyrics remain intact but the filmmakers carry a disclaimer in the audio and video versions of the song that it didn't intend to hurt any name or brand.

OMG! (Oh My God): Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad were some of the many Hindu groups seething with the film's ridicule of the religion's deities and its scathing attack on age-old rituals and beliefs. The film was released uncut and was one of the biggest hits of 2012.

Kamaal Dhamaal Malaamal: Catholic groups in Mumbai submitted a memorandum to the CBFC complaining against the depiction of the community and the clergy in bad light, the producers deleted objectionable scenes including one which showed a priest dancing with a rosary and a garland of lottery tickets around his neck.

Son of Sardaar: Ajay Devgun removed objectionable material after organizations such as Sikh Anti-Defamation League were unhappy that the film had dialogues which hurt the community's sentiments.

Student of the Year: An FIR was filed by an NGO in Indore against producers - Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment in objection to the song "Radha teri Chunni" in which the mythological character was described as "sexy". BJP politician Sushma Swaraj and HJS also were part of the disgruntled lot. The song wasn't excluded from the film.

Film Promotion - The Indian way

Blog Entry No - 393

There was a time when film promotion in India was limited to trailers, posters and hoardings. Filmmakers and actors have given up outdated methods to try something new. Celebrities are leaving no stone unturned to promote their films.

Aaamir Khan wanted Google to replace its search button with the word 'Talaash' (Talaash means search in Hindi) in India. Despite hectic parleys the brilliant marketing ploy did not work out. Google was worried about the dilution of its carefully crafted and nurtured brand name. It would have been a win for Talaash but a loss for Google. Typing Google and getting Talaash on the screen would have confused even Hindi knowing Indians. The plight of a non-Hindi knowing person in India (and they are a majority in India) would have been horrendous.

Aamir Khan did a two-week country tour called "Bharat Darshan" in different get-ups as part of his promotion of the movie "3 Idiots".

Aamir Khan became a barber for his fans to promote his blockbuster hit "Ghajini", offering people his "Ghajini" haircut.

For “3 Idiots”, Aamir got stickers pasted on the back of auto-rickshaws in Mumbai to market the film. The stickers read “Capacity: 3 Idiots Only”.

Amitabh Bachchan who played the role of media magnate in a movie called "Rann" appeared on a TV channel to do a year-end news roundup

Director Ram Gopal Verma of the same movie launched a 10-page daily newspaper called Rann Times as a way of promoting the same film. 

Ramgopal Varma’s publicists worked 24/7 a week before the release of his latest film “Bhoot Returns” to send news stories to every paper in town that the child star Alayana Sharma’s mother has filed a case against the filmmaker because the child was affected badly after she saw the film.

Salman Khan launched a nationwide hunt for unsung heroes to connect with the masses and also promote his period film "Veer". 

Salman Khan had appeared in khaki on “Laagi Tujhse Laganto” to promote “Dabangg” and chosen the sets of “Na Aana Iss Desh Lado” to promote “Body Guard”

Sridevi appeared on KBC along with her director to promote the movie “English-vinglish”. Sridevi  also took time out to promote her film dancing with Madhuri Dixit in the show “Jhalak Dikhla  Jaa”.

Vidya Balan had gone to different Indian cities in a pregnant avatar just to promote her film “Kahaani”.

Before the release of Anurag Basu’s “KITES”, rumours were high about the alleged relationship between Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori, and also about the rift between Hrithik and his wife Sussane. 

The makers of the movie “Luck by Chance”  started a campaign in Mumbai by branding some auto-rickshaws as ‘Auto By Chance’ and those, who spotted these autos, were given free rides anywhere in the city.

Producer Asit Mehta shot three episodes of his popular show “Tarak  Mehta  Ka Oolta Chasma”  with Ajay Devgun, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin and Prachi Desai with director Rohit Mehta by making them appear in a press conference for “Bol Bachchan” with real life journalists like Inder Mohan Pannu, Rajesh along with the members of the Gokuldham Society who appeared as gate crashers in the press conference.

Ranbir Kapoor came  in  serials  like  “Afsar  Bitiya”, “Phir Subah Hogi” and “Pavitra Rishta” to promote “Barfi” because he knew a lot  of women  are  watching  these  shows and they would come and watch him in Barfi.

Akshay Kumar had gifted his favorite bike to a contestant in Entertainment “Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega” before the release of  “Action Replay”.

Imtiaz Ali had asked people to vote for one of the three title options, before naming his film “Jab We Met”.

The movie industry has gone techno-savvy to use social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to connect with their audiences. Today, making a great movie is not enough. It has to be accompanied by a great marketing plan to taste success at the box office.

Eros one of the movie distributors struck an alliance with Google’s Youtube, and has its own partner channel on the video sharing site that gets over 100 million views, markets its videos on websites like MSN, Rediff, AOL, Yahoo to drive the audiences to its content.

Typically, total marketing budgets of a Bollywood movie comprise 30 per cent of which 15 per cent is spent on digital marketing.