The Narratives – Mohamed Miah

By Mohamed Miah

Cinema, at its best, is a reflection of our shared humanity—its beauty, struggles, and contradictions. But today, the silver screen has become a distorted mirror, bent to serve the interests of the powerful. Hollywood and Bollywood, once champions of storytelling and cultural diplomacy, now feel like tools of propaganda, feeding audiences narratives carefully designed to divide, manipulate, and brainwash.

The most tragic part? Many people watching these films don’t even realise they’re being manipulated. They cheer for the heroes, vilify the villains, and come out of the cinema subtly shaped by a narrative not of their own choosing. These days, it makes me feel sick and nauseous. I find myself avoiding mainstream movies altogether, turning to YouTube instead, where I can carefully select what I watch and avoid being force-fed these toxic messages.

It’s ironic, isn’t it? These industries that thrive on the richness of human creativity are hurting the very essence of what it means to be human. And in the case of Hindutva fanatics driving the narratives in Bollywood, the irony is even more palpable. These so-called protectors of Hindu culture—many of whom believe in reincarnation—might want to reflect on the consequences of their actions. For the harm they’ve caused to the innocent, perhaps their next life as maggots in shit will give them a taste of the suffering they’ve inflicted.

Hollywood The Subtle Architect of Global Propaganda

Hollywood’s influence on global perception is unmatched. For decades, it has quietly shaped how we view the world and, more importantly, America’s place in it. During the Cold War, films like Red Dawn glorified American patriotism while painting the Soviet Union as the ultimate evil. More recently, the War on Terror provided fertile ground for films such as Zero Dark Thirty and American Sniper, which glorify Western militarism and dehumanise Muslims as faceless, disposable enemies.

But the manipulation doesn’t stop at war films. Even superhero franchises are loaded with subtle messaging. Marvel films, for instance, often frame Western interventionism as a moral necessity, reducing complex global issues into cartoonish “good versus evil” narratives.

The racial undertones are just as pervasive. Hollywood has a long history of reinforcing damaging stereotypes: Black men as criminals, Latinos as drug lords, Asians as perpetual foreigners. It’s not just lazy storytelling—it’s conditioning. When audiences see these depictions over and over again, they begin to accept them as reality.

Bollywood From Culture to Hindutva Propaganda

If Hollywood is a masterclass in subtle propaganda, Bollywood is increasingly blatant. Once a bastion of cultural pluralism, Bollywood now serves as an amplifier for Hindutva—the toxic ideology that seeks to define India as a Hindu-only nation.

Films like The Kashmir Files and Tanhaji glorify Hindu nationalism while demonising Muslims. Even Bollywood’s biggest stars—the so-called “Three Khans” (Shah Rukh, Salman, and Aamir)—seem to have been swept into this tide. Their recent films, including Pathaan and Jawan, align with state-approved narratives that frame Muslims either as loyal patriots or as existential threats to the nation.

This is no coincidence. Production houses are increasingly dependent on government support, which comes with ideological strings attached. Directors and actors who dare to speak out—like Anurag Kashyap—face boycotts, legal harassment, and even death threats. The choice is clear: conform or be erased.

And then there’s Bollywood’s bizarre love affair with Israel. Highlighting figures like Moses Sapir, an Israeli fan of Amitabh Bachchan, is not about celebrating fandom but about softening Indian public opinion towards Israel. It’s a calculated move to erode India’s historical solidarity with Palestine and align Indian audiences with Zionist narratives that paint Muslims as the perpetual enemy.

The Hindutva-Zionist Nexus A Match Made in Bigotry

On the surface, Hindutva and Zionism might seem like strange bedfellows. But dig deeper, and the similarities are striking. Both are rooted in ethno-religious nationalism, prioritising their own groups over pluralistic societies. Both see Muslims as existential threats to their vision of a “pure” nation.

This shared hostility has led to a geopolitical and cultural alliance between India and Israel. Bollywood and Hollywood are now tools in this alignment, spreading Islamophobia and justifying the oppression of Muslims.

In Bollywood, we see this in the glorification of Hindu rulers and the demonisation of Muslim ones. In Hollywood, it’s in the portrayal of Palestinians as aggressors and Israel as a shining democracy surrounded by barbarism.

And then there are the actions that transcend film. The fact that some Indians, driven by Hindutva ideology, have joined Israel in its attacks on Gaza is chilling. These individuals, many of whom believe in reincarnation, should consider the karma of siding with oppression and bloodshed.

Racism and Propaganda in News Media

Entertainment is just one arm of this propaganda machine. News media, both in India and the West, completes the picture.

In India, channels like Republic TV parrot the BJP government’s Islamophobic rhetoric, painting Muslims as invaders and terrorists. In the West, outlets like CNN and The New York Times adopt Zionist talking points, portraying Palestinians as aggressors while sanitising Israeli apartheid. The language used—“terrorists” versus “defenders”—is deliberate, designed to dehumanise one side while legitimising the other.

The Cost of Propaganda

The real-world consequences of this propaganda are devastating. In India, Muslims face lynchings, disenfranchisement, and systemic discrimination, fuelled by the narratives they see on screen and in the news. In Palestine, families endure apartheid, displacement, and violence, their humanity erased by global media.

Even beyond these communities, the damage is universal. Propaganda simplifies complex issues, reducing them to black-and-white binaries that fuel division and hate. It distracts us from real challenges—climate change, inequality, systemic corruption—by manufacturing enemies to blame.

Reclaiming Humanity Through Resistance

What can we do in the face of this manipulation?

1. Question the Narrative: Every time you watch a film or read the news, ask yourself: Who benefits from this story? What perspectives are missing?

2. Support Independent Voices: Filmmakers, journalists, and creators who dare to challenge the status quo need our support more than ever.

3. Demand Better Art: Entertainment should inspire and unite, not divide. Celebrate stories that reflect humanity in all its diversity.

4. Unite in Solidarity: The oppressed—whether in India, Palestine, or elsewhere—must unite to resist these forces of division.

Final Thoughts

Hollywood and Bollywood are no longer just places of dreams; they are battlegrounds where ideologies clash, and narratives are forged. But the power to reclaim these spaces lies with us—the audience.

As I scroll through YouTube, carefully choosing what I watch to avoid the toxic narratives on offer, I wonder what it will take for humanity to wake up. Maybe it’s time we stop accepting the stories we’re told and start writing our own.

Because in a world shaped by propaganda, choosing the truth is an act of rebellion. And maybe, just maybe, the greatest story yet to be told is one where we reclaim our shared humanity.