Indian Film Directed By Bhansali Based On The Poem Padmavati

Padmavat and Culture
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Padmavat and Culture
Padmavat is a 2018 Indian film directed by Bhansali based on the poem Padmavati. The main characters are Rani Padmavat, a well-known beautiful Rajput queen, and Sultan Khilji who attacks her kingdom to claim her after hearing of her beauty.
Question 1
Culture and national identity can be built on “false truths.” Myths are part of many cultures; they are told to children as bedtimes stories and form the basis for many cultural beliefs and practices. Padvamati is no exception; the Rajput community glorifies it regardless of whether it was true or false. The Rajput pride and bravery which assigned to Padvamati in the 20th century are real, and the questions about the reality of Padvamati do not in any way compromise these beliefs. Her story may be false, but the entire collective identity of Rajput is real. It can be seen in the protests, some of which turned violent, that preceded the release of the film. The protesters were very much attached to the cultural aspect of Padvamati and were of the view that if the film were not released, only a few crores would be lost, but if released for many years the soul and pride of the Indian nation will be lost. They insisted that Padvamat is an insult to India’s identity as it shows the wrong history. The Rajput Karni Sena, which has spearheaded the protests has banned the film in Rajasthan. Nationalism globally also shows how national identity can be built on false truths; it is mainly based on political ideas. For example, different nations interpret history differently to suit their narrative, the French center world history on the French revolution, the Italians on the Renaissance and Roman Empire and Americans on the war for independence against the British. The discordant narratives are meant to create a sense of belonging to fictitious families called nations.
Question 2
It is true that glorification of one’s own culture and customs is unavoidable when attempting to portray collective identity as unique and that this glorification cann...