By M L Satyan

Bengaluru, Sept 13, 2023: Jawan film has become the talk of the town all over the country these days. Akash Banerjee of The Desh Bhakt YouTube channel reproduced the pertinent questions asked by Shah Rukh Khan, the hero of the film, as given below:

“You all have the small habit – pointing your finger everywhere – questioning everything while buying flour, lentils, rice, oil, soap etc. Is the flour adulterated? Is there pebble in the rice? Will this soap give a foam?

While buying a motorcycle, you question about the mileage it will give and also whether its after-sale service is good. How much do you squirt while buying a small pen? You ask questions for everything, everywhere and every time. How many questions you ask for a mosquito coil that runs just for five hours? Will it cause a lot of smoke? Will it be able to kill mosquitoes?

But while choosing your government of five years, you do not ask a single question. That is why I demand that you ask questions. Instead of voting for fear, money, caste, religion, and community, ask questions to one who comes for votes. Ask them what they will do for you, the voter.

• “What will you do for the education of my children?”
• “What will you do to get me a job?”
• “If I fall sick, what will you do for my family?”
• “What will you do to develop my country for five years?”

Ask all these questions before voting. Use the finger to ask questions. Because if you do this, then, to improve the health services of this country, to help the poor farmers, there will be no need for Vikram Rathore (hero) because your finger has lot of power. If you accept this demand, you will be free from poverty, injustice and corruption. Believe in the power of your finger. Use it.”

These questions provoke my thoughts and make me feel proud of certain prophetic film-makers and stars. The positive comments by the people after watching this film in theatres prove the immense awakening created among them. It may be argued that the film-makers and stars earn millions of rupees through films. Yet, the fact is that this film challenges corrupt socioeconomic and political systems.

Akash Banerjee also has given an analysis of the film: “We need to listen to this monologue of Shah Rukh Khan again and again and understand the questions. Many people are getting agitated after watching this film and believe it is against Modi government as released just before 2024 elections. When the hero shows his hand… they say it is ‘vote for Congress’ signal. But if you listen to the dialogue in the film, it is for mosquito coil that works for five hours.

I would like to go to the most painful part of the film. Children die of Encephalitis. This is a fact. There was a sad incident under the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh state. In this incident Doctor Kafeel Khan, who tried to save the children, was made a criminal. It was also a fact that before Yogi, in the 1980s and 1990s, 1,000 cases of Encephalitis were reported in UP every year. The case fatality was 20-30 percent.

The second incident is farmer suicide. It has been shown in a painful way the how loan agents humiliate a farmer, make him naked and force him to commit suicide. There have been many farmer suicides since 2014. But the government has put more salt on injury when it is said that the farmer’s income will double.

If we talk about the government data, then, between 1995 and 2014, 300,000 farmers lost their lives due to suicide. So, it is not possible that the film is not talking about any political party. The motive could be crony capitalism, corruption, education problems, and health sector that is in ICU.

Because of faulty weapons in the army, our soldiers die. This is another important part of the film’s storyline. Remember the movie Rang De Basanti in 2006. It had the same storyline. Our fighter jets had faulty and cheap parts. As a consequence, our fighters lost their lives. Today, the art of making a film which can raise questions and give a message, has been forgotten. It is rare that a film like Jai Bhim is made.

So, the important questions to be raised are: Who is the target of Jawan? Who is it supporting? Who does the hero of this film want to talk to after shaking the system? Who was his last demand?

The film ultimately is aiming at us. The hero is giving message to us. We need to listen to his questions very carefully. The hero is talking about our blindness and against our stupidity. The film wants to make the public target, which has lost its sense, has forgotten to ask questions and is deep fried like pakoda in pan of religion and hatred. Anyway, whether you like or not, Shah Rukh Khan and the film Director are smart, you will agree.

No government falls from a single film. But the message can definitely reach the public. If a right message can be given with spice, a responsible film-maker or star cannot do more than this. The message has been given. If the public becomes a little aware of the politicians who fool them day and night, if they start asking them questions, it will be good for the country.

The biggest game played on people is to abuse those who ask questions and brand them as anti-national. Do we have the power to understand this game? Ultimately useless politicians are elected by us. So, question everything for a better and brighter India.”

The above analysis and comments by Akash Banerjee of The Desh Bhakt channel are really thought-provoking. The lesson from this film is that we all need to use media for constructive purposes. At every level we need to build awareness among people. We should have the courage to question. Let us arise, awake and stop not questioning corrupt systems in our society.