Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh should research the story of Azadi before reporting on it

Sometimes words go beyond their literal meaning and become symbols. They become part of an ecosystem of thoughts and beliefs and even come to represent movements. But popularity has its own baggage. Take the rather legitimate case against co-opting the song "Azadi", which has become synonymous with mbad dissent over the years in the next Bollywood film, Gully Boy.

The film and its music are increasingly appreciated by critics and the public. , many have taken a problem with the song "Azadi". Written and performed originally by musician Dub Sharma in tribute to the many student protests against the government and authorities that erupted with the suicide of Rohith Vemula, a student at the University of Hyderabad, in 2016, he was quickly badociated with dissent and "anti-national" protest) in general

Student political leaders such as Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid became well-known names after allegedly singing "Azadi" at the University Jawaharlal Nehru the same year during a controversial demonstration against the hanging of Azal. Guru sentenced to death for his involvement in the terrorist attack on Parliament in 2001. They and others still face sedition charges for launching "anti-India" slogans and leading the movement.
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The heavy implications and badociations conveyed by the word made it a bit difficult to watch the actors Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, the talented duo who plays the protagonists in the film, sit on a couch for a popular talk show with the critics Anupama Chopra cinema and tidy up "Azadi" in a popcorn brand that Indian yuppies can nibble while watching national debates about freedom of expression.
"It's a catchy track," Bhatt said. "I am apolitical," said Ranveer adding that he was busy with his job and his personal life. Of course, it's a catchy song and people have the right to be apolitical and to be busy. But it is a little disappointing to find that popular influencers, especially artists, choose to exploit problems for artistic and commercial gains without taking a stand on the problem in real life.

"Azadi" by Dub Sharma spoke of the right to equality, and protection against caste atrocities, government repression, saffronization of politics, etc. She sought to free herself from "Manuwaad", casteism, religious discrimination. The singers were used by protesters in Kashmir, during FTII protests and countless other cases where anger of public opinion erupted.

Be that as it may, Ranveer Singh can not convincingly deny a common ground between politics and the entertainment industry. Think of the glamorous PSAs starring Akshay Kumar – the so-called "poster boy" of Swachha Bharat in Bollywood. Or Vicky Kaushal, who recently gave many members of the government a new slogan and a new favorite movie in "Uri".

But that is not the problem. It is perhaps in the casually with which the actors proclaim are "happy rabbits" who get up in the morning and sing "azadi bolo" because they like "energy" and "melody" of the song. All those who chanted "Azadi" did not benefit from this type of privilege.

But, then, if "Azadi", which was above all a call for the emancipation of women even before it becomes the war cry for 2016 students, is a Bollywood number full of enthusiasm now?

Are all the movements to which the call for freedom has been given underestimated? Not really. The symbols and institutions that used singing represent greater endurance and history, and the loss of a symbol is not enough to erase the legacy of dissent. Not as much as the BJP and Congress co-opting the slogan of the little campaign, anyway.

And movies and music are among the best forms of dissent anyway, so it may be a good thing that Zoya Akhtar has appropriated singing. and makes it more resonant with a wider audience. The song itself is lyrical and impressive and reflects to a certain extent what singing is supposed to symbolize in reality. Perhaps she should have given her "apolitical" actors a memo about the appropriate answers to questions about the political nature of her film's very political music.

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