Portrayal of Pakistan's image in Bollywood films

Abstract

This research aims to analyse how film media can exert propaganda and perpetuate and build a desired image, with a narrowed focus on how the Indian film industry, Bollywood, has influenced its audience with its portrayal of Pakistan. The basal focus of this research is to break down the secrete messages brought forth by Indian films released between the years 1997 to 2015. It is noteworthy that it is in this time span that the Indianfilm industry openly used the country Pakistan's name, instead of merely referring it to as 'the enemy in the neighbourhood'. The research method employedfor this is largely qualitative thematic content analyses of the Bollywood ranging from the year 1997 to 2015. Bollywood motion pictures are appreciated by millions in India and Pakistan and furthermore in the West. This research clarifies the preconceived notion about Pakistanis and Muslims in their films. This paper alleges that making use of cliche portrayal, Indian films impart substantial messages driven by politics and tends to compound the current clashes, as they have developed with the regional politics - from war to cross-border terrorism to finally propagating Pakistan as a terrorist state.