 "So not trending in B’Wood: #Endgame Osama")
Bollywood’s archaic 16-reel formula survived many a socio-economic change but its celluloid climaxes remain constant – the antagonist is always brought to his knees. Triumph of the good, David and Goliath and the ‘rise of the underdog’ themes never fail to deliver on expectations of righteous retribution. Our films may have gotten shorter over time, but the message of good over evil screamed out loud and clear over the fake AK-47s and dhishoom-dhishoom Dolby soundtracks. Such was also the end of the world’s most ruthless and fanatical terrorist, Osama bin Laden. Straight out of a Bollywood plot, the drama unfolded on the political stage, directed by the United States and its allies for almost 10 years following 9/11. [caption id=“attachment_5883” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Mallika Sherawat. Raju Shelar/firstpost.com”]
[/caption] The world is sighing and opining on the news of his death, and singing hosannas for US President Barack Obama for having vanquished the evil face of terror for good. But Bollywood’s glossy posse, never far behind in expressing nationalistic fervour or opinion on global events, has reacted rather timidly. To be fair, actors have always helped victims of terror or natural disasters with human acts of kindness – by agreeing to honorary fundraiser performances, galvanising public awareness on a cause, or sending supplies and necessities to the victims as after 26/11 or the 2005 floods. Bollywood has always been there. Today, social networking platforms have made it that much easier for stars to reach out to those who need help. Case in point: Salman Khan, who uses Twitter to raise money from his followers, even if just a Rupee. Only recently, his followers donated money to the bank account of an ailing person in need of funds for a surgery. The tepid reactions of the glam brigade on social networking sites is disappointing; they had more to say about the Royal Wedding, as if commanded by Lord Chamberlain himself to do so! The end of a man who machinated the most macabre terrorist acts over the past decade should have elicited a more vociferous stand, given their voices are followed and heard the most in these celebrity-obsessed times.
[ View the story “Bollywood reacts” on Storify]