In a country considered free of anti-Semitism, the recent brouhaha over a Bollywood filmmaker’s plan to produce a film on Adolf Hitler’s “positive” qualities is troubling audiences across the world.
Dear Friend Hitler originally starred Anupam Kher, a legend in Indian film, as Hitler, and Neha Dhupia, a former Miss India, as Hitler’s wife Eva Braun. Director Rajesh Ranjan Kumar hopes to portray Hitler’s ”love for India,” along with his charismatic personality in the movie.
“As a leader he was successful,” Kumar told The Times. “I want to show why did he lose as a human being? What were the problems, what were the issues, what were his intentions?”
Kher promptly quit the film after an international outcry criticized his insensitivity, but Dhupia is still signed for the project, telling television audiences, “I'm a great fan of Hitler, for sure.”
Considering that Bollywood, the Mumbai-based Hindi language film industry, produces 800 films a year, about three times as many as Hollywood, and that their overseas box-office revenues total upwards of $20 million per film, Indian cinema has immense potential to influence moviegoers and to establish accepted practices.
The critically acclaimed 2009 smash hit 3 Idiots touched on the extreme pressures students in Indian universities face and ended with a student killing himself. The film opened up dialogue between academic institutions and students, but it also led to growing reports of ragging, a perennial problem in the Indian education system, and a case of a suicide “copycat” in Gujarat.
Hitler has a keen following in India. Mein Kampf sells over 70,000 copies annually in India, a huge number by Indian standards, and is a frequent sight in roadside stalls selling pirated versions; in contrast, Mahatma’s Gandhi’s autobiography sells about 250,000 copies all over the world. Mein Kampf is an autobiography and political tract that was written during Hitler’s prison service in 1923, and explains his political reasoning behind destroying the twin evils of Communism and Judaism.
Additionally, a Bombay restaurant called Hitlers' Cross featuring a full Nazi theme opened in 2006, but quickly redecorated following complaints from local Jewish leaders. The restaurant’s concept is representative of Indians’ ignorance on the extent of Hitler’s exploits.
"I am not really agitated as I have not read much about the man,” said Murli Sharma, a Bollywood actor who attended the restaurant’s opening. “However, from what I know about Hitler, I find this name rather amusing."
While most citizens are horrified by the Holocaust, Hitler is revered as a leading example of discipline, effective management and strategy in India. Furthermore, many believe that his ability to unify a nation takes precedence over his bloody policies.
"They see it as a kind of success story where one man can have a vision, work out a plan on how to implement it and then successfully complete it," said Sohin Lakhani of Embassy Books in Mumbai in 2009.
Some scholars and politicians, such as founder of the nationalist Shiv Sena party Bal Thackeray, even believe that Hitler helped India gain its independence in 1947 by helping Subhas Chandra Bose’s armed struggle. Bose was an Indian liberator who broke away from Mahatma Gandhi’s pacifist rebellion to lead his own army for independence, the Free India Legion. There is little evidence that Hitler loved India—although he did adopt the swastika from Hinduism— or that he was an ally in their fight to end colonial rule, but this sentiment prevails with certain members of the country.
There are approximately 15,000 Jews in India, most of who live along the Western coastline in Mumbai and Cochin. Although Portuguese settlers persecuted Jews in the late 16th century, reports of anti-Semitism originating with Hindus or Muslims have been relatively non-existent in recent history. Consequently, most Indians remain unaware of Jewish social issues; there is little to no Holocaust education in public schools, and Jews are not prevalent members of public life.
For years, Bollywood relied on a boy-meets-girl formula, interspersed with its trademark lengthy song-and-dance routines. Recently however, filmmakers are exploring more controversial themes, such as the difficulties facing Indian-Muslims in post 9/11 America and an Osama Bin Laden spoof. Critics believe that the Hitler movie is simply another attempt at an innovative storyline—albeit, one in poor choice—rather than a reflection of support for the German dictator’s atrocities.
“In the end, though, India's fascination with Hitler—confined to a small minority to begin with—won't last,” said Sadanand Dhume, an international journalist and Bernard Schwartz fellow at the Asia Society in New York. “As for Dear Friend Hitler, if it ever gets off the ground it will likely go down in history as little more than a symbol of Bollywood's limitless capacity for poor taste.”
