A Study on Rajkumar Hirani's Directorial Films
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DIDACTICISM IN POPULAR BOLLYWOOD FILMS: A STUDY ON RAJKUMAR HIRANI'S DIRECTORIAL FILMS SHREYA N Registered No: 1424048 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Media and Communication Studies CHRIST UNIVERSITY Bengaluru 2016 Program Authorized to Offer Degree: Department of Media Studies ii CHRIST UNIVERSITY Department of Media Studies This is to certify that I have examined this copy of a master’s thesis by Shreya N Registered Number : 1424048 and have found that it is complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the final examining committee have been made. Committee Members: _____________________________________________________ [NARESH RAO] _____________________________________________________ Date:__________________________________ iii iv I, Shreya N, confirm that this dissertation and the work presented in it are my own achievement. 1. Where I have consulted the published work of others this is always clearly attributed. 2. Where I have quoted from the work of others the source is always given. With the exception of such quotations this dissertation is entirely my own work. 3. I have acknowledged all main sources of help. 4. If my research follows on from previous work or is part of a larger collaborative research project I have made clear exactly what was done by others and what I have contributed myself. 5. I am aware and accept the penalties associated with plagiarism. Date: v vi CHRIST UNIVERSITY ABSTRACT Didacticism In Popular Bollywood Films: A Study on Rajkumar Hirani's Directorial Films Shreya N The dissertation titled “Didacticism in Popular Bollywood Films: A Study on Rajkumar Hirani's Directorial Films,” speaks about the representation of didactic elements in popular Bollywood films. Didacticism is a philosophy that has been employed in various artistic endeavours from time before the Ancient Greeks. This philosophy believes that any piece of literature or art are meant to both entertain and educate. Popular cinema is also an artistic medium and has the ability to attract a number of people. Popular Bollywood Cinema helps us to understand a lot about the culture and lifestyle of the people. Though the characters are highly exaggerated in popular cinema it almost serves as the mirror to the society. Popular cinema in the recent times has influenced many people’s lives and these instances are seen to be reported in many newspapers, magazines etc. For the study of the didactic elements four directional films of Rajkumar Hirani namely, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots and PK have been chosen Through the study the researcher examines how didactic elements are presented to film viewers and shows the importance to understand, explore and analyse the didactic elements in popular and commercially successful directorial films of Rajkumar Hirani. Keywords: didacticism, Bollywood, popular cinema, Rajkumar Hirani. vii viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere gratitude to my Guide, Prof. Naresh Rao and Fr. Biju K. Chacko – course co-ordinator, for their constant guidance encouragement and support. I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Department of Media Studies and Dr. Arya Aiyappan for their valuable feedback and assistance in bringing out this research. ix x DEDICATION To my parents xi xii TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ............................................................................................................ xiv List of Tables ............................................................................................................. xvi Chapter 1 Introduction................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background to the study ................................................................................. 1 1.2 Statement of the research ................................................................................ 9 1.3 Purpose and the significance of the study ..................................................... 10 1.4 Research design ............................................................................................ 10 1.5 Research question ......................................................................................... 10 1.6 Limitations of the study ................................................................................ 10 1.7 Scope for further research ............................................................................. 10 1.8 Objectives of the study.................................................................................. 11 Chapter 2 Review of Literature ................................................................................ 12 Chapter 3 Methodology ............................................................................................. 27 3.1 Definition of research ..................................................................................... 27 3.2 Research philosophy ....................................................................................... 28 3.3 Types of research methods ............................................................................. 28 3.4 Research methods used in this research ......................................................... 29 Chapter 4 Data Analysis ............................................................................................ 34 4.1 Summary of the films ..................................................................................... 34 4.2. Analysis of the films ...................................................................................... 45 4.3 Comparative analysis ..................................................................................... 73 Chapter 5 Findings & Conclusions .......................................................................... 76 5.1 Summary of the results ................................................................................... 76 5.2 Discussion of the results ................................................................................. 76 5.3 Limitations of the study .................................................................................. 80 5.4 Suggestions for further research ..................................................................... 80 Bibliography ............................................................................................................... 81 xiii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Number Page Figure 1 Munna Bhai film poster ............................................................................................. 34 Figure 2 Lage Raho Munna Bhai film poster .......................................................................... 37 Figure 3 3 Idiots film poster ..................................................................................................... 39 Figure 4 PK film poster ............................................................................................................ 43 Figure 5 Jadoo ki jhappi ........................................................................................................... 47 Figure 6 Munna and Circuit playing carom in an attempt to encourage the old man to live and attract his attention towards playing ........................................................................... 47 Figure 7 Munna using his unconventional methods for encouraging a boy to quit the idea of committing suicide repeatedly .................................................................................... 48 Figure 8 Munna gets agitated by the inhumane way of treating Anand .................................. 49 Figure 9 Munna Conversing with Anand Bhai as if he was a normal person .......................... 50 Figure 10 Munna circling around Anand Bhai in the garden ................................................... 50 Figure 11 The first time Munna encounters with the apparition of Mahatma Gandhi ............. 52 Figure 12 Munna hosting a radio show with Bapu .................................................................. 53 Figure 13 Munna Bhai and the old people staging satyagraha protest in front of Lucky Signh’s House .......................................................................................................................... 54 Figure 14 Munna & Bapu at the Second Innings House to give a guest lecture on Gandhi .... 55 Figure 15 A young man calling out to a waiter at restaurant by saying choochoo .................. 56 Figure 16 A man with a smile on his face cleans the spit of his neighbour on his door .......... 57 Figure 17 An old man giving away all his belongings to the officer to get his pension file passed .......................................................................................................................... 58 Figure 18 Virus giving an example for "life is a rat race" and people have to work hard ....... 60 Figure 19 Farhan and Raju's households.................................................................................. 61 Figure 20 Rancho changes a few words in Chatur's speech which makes the speech derogatory and alters the meaning of it ....................................................................... 62 Figure 21 Virus screaming at Chatur for his derogatory speech .............................................. 62 Figure 22 Lobo giving up his life due to pressure and fear of failure ...................................... 63 Figure 23 Farhan's parents deciding what he would take