Recently, Kannada actor and director Rishab Shetty created a stir in the film business by sharply criticizing Bollywood.
Rishab Shetty criticizes Bollywood.
Shetty voiced annoyance in a popular interview over how Bollywood presents India on worldwide platforms, especially at film festivals. His comments have started a more general discussion on how Indian film presents its nation to the world.
Rishab Shetty accused Bollywood movies of presenting India in a bad light at major worldwide events. Shetty feels that although Bollywood receives the red carpet treatment at international events, it does so at the expense of damaging India’s image. “These art films receive red-carpet treatment and are showcased at global events.” My pride comes from my country, state, and language. Why not approach it positively on a worldwide basis?” Shetty asked questions during his interview, therefore igniting a fierce discussion in the Indian cinema sector.
The Fight for Respect of Kannada Cinema
Shetty’s complaints go beyond Bollywood’s supremacy on the international scene. He also underlined Kannada film’s marginalization. Though films like Kantara are successful, Kannada directors find it difficult to get visibility on big OTT platforms and are often compelled to distribute their work on YouTube or smaller movie theaters. Shetty has expressed his unhappiness several times, expressing dissatisfaction that Kannada films do not get the attention they deserve even when the critics praise.
Pride in Kannada movies and Indian civilization
Rishab Shetty’s critique originates from a strong pride in Indian culture, more especially Kannada background. Rather than emphasizing negative images, he thinks that movies should be used to highlight India’s beauty, customs, and strengths to the globe.Shetty expressed, “My nation, my state, my language—my pride.” His approach emphasizes celebrating Indian culture in films rather than focusing on narratives that could harm India’s reputation internationally.
His critique has sparked a passionate debate on how Indian directors should portray their nation internationally. Although his remarks could be divisive, they speak to a segment of the public who believes Bollywood’s global stories sometimes deviate much from the actual character of the nation. Shetty’s remarks might have started a trend toward recovering and reinterpretation of Indian cinema’s worldwide reputation as he gets ready for his upcoming project Kantara Chapter 1: The Legend.
