In 2001, director Shankar made a unique film called Nayak—The Real Hero, starring Anil Kapoor. The movie follows a TV journalist who interviews the state’s Chief Minister. When asked about corruption, the CM challenges him to become CM for a day and clean up the system. The journalist accepts the challenge and tries to eradicate corruption and illegal activities in just 24 hours. The movie had a message for the common man: honest and true patriotic citizens should enter politics; only then can we have a clean government.
In 2003 popular filmmaker and multiple National Award-winning director Madhur Bhandarkar made Satta, starring Raveena Tandon in the lead role. The film presented women’s power and showed a wife entering into active politics after her husband lands up in jail. The film is remembered as Raveena Tandon‘s powerhouse performance.
Exposing the Truth: Corruption in Indian Politics
Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia‘s Haasil (2003) presented the student politics in Allahabad in all its roughness. The character of Irrfan Khan as an upper-caste student leader who falls in love and does all he can do to win his girl was highly appreciated.
Film director Mani Ratnam is famous for his bold and innovative subjects. Mani Ratnam’s 2004 film Yuva featured Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, and Abhishek Bachchan. The film urged young people to enter politics and clean up the system.
In 2005 filmmaker Sudhir Mishra came up with a masterstroke film, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. The film told the story of three individuals against the backdrop of the emergency period in the ’70s when the country witnessed political turmoil and new changes.
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, inspired by the charisma of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and the Hollywood film GGodfather, made two films in a series, viz., Sarkar (2005) and Sarkar Raj (2008). Both films depict the clan-type political family residing in Mumbai and ruling over the city.
Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra</a>‘s Rang De Basanti (2006) was an emotional and powerful political thriller starring Aamir Khan in the lead. The film was a politically sensitive film for the youth of the country. The film won a National Award for its breathtaking subject.
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Anurag Kashyap‘s Gulaal (2009) was another hard-hitting movie that focused on student politics versus separatist politics. In this film, actor K.K. Menon won fame for his brilliant performance. Though Gulaal was not a box office hit, it won critical acclaim for its bold take on politics.
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