Lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar recently commented on films like Dhurandhar being tagged as propaganda movies stating that everybody has a right to “propagate their ideas.”
While speaking to reporters in Kolkata after receiving an award from a jewellery brand for his achievements, Akhtar was asked to comment on some recent films like Dhurandhar being tagged as propaganda movies.
"I don't know what you mean by propaganda films. I loved Dhurandhar, which was an excellent film. I loved the first one more than the second one," he said.
"Every story takes some stand, but does it become propaganda because the narrative isn't suited to a section of the audience? Everyone has the right to propagate his ideas. What is wrong with propaganda films? The task of every filmmaker is to present the truth,” he added.
“Even if the narrative of a movie is built on a fairy tale, that will have an ideology in a way,” he further explained.
The writer also said that every film has a moral, which can be labelled differently.
Asked if he would again write Deewaar, the 1975 film, the script of which he had co-written with Salim Khan, Akhtar replied in the negative.
"Films are like mirrors. With the passage of time, morality changes, and aspirations change. As the society changes, content changes," he said.
Akhtar said he would finally like to make a mainstream film which would be acceptable to both the class and mass audiences.
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar series earned over Rs 3000 crore but was also criticised for being a pro-establishment propaganda.
