Pathaan Controversy: Why ‘Besharam Rang’ Is Not Besharam

Pathaan is the much-awaited action thriller that will see Shah Rukh Khan coming on the silver screen after a four year break from Bollywood, barring his cameo appearances here and there. Pathaan is already being lauded for its power-packed trailer. However, after the release of its first song ‘Besharam Rang’, there has been a frenzy among a certain subset of netizens and politicians, who have called for a boycott of the movie. This is all due to a particular scene from the song that shows Deepika Padukone in a saffron bikini. Moreover, SRK is spotted in a green shirt in this shot, which is making a lot of trolls bring the angle of ‘Love Jihad’; a hysterical interpretation of the musical composition. For those not in the know, the Hindutva brigade has claimed saffron as a symbol of their own, while the colour green is popularly associated with Islam and Pakistan because it is an auspicious colour for Muslims as well as the colour of Pakistan’s flag.

After a lot of debate, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has apparently suggested some major changes in the movie and the song in particular.

According to a leaked Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) document shared by Kamaal R Khan aka KRK on Twitter, words such as RAW and also close-up shots showing Deepika’s buttocks, side pose (partial nudity) shots, and other sensual dance moves have allegedly been replaced with 'suitable shots' in Besharam Rang track.

This is the proof, Ki censor board Ne release Hone se Pahle Hi #Pathaan Ki Waat Lagadi. CB forced makers to replace #Raw word everywhere. pic.twitter.com/KEb7logfJw

— KRK (@kamaalrkhan) January 4, 2023

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Shah Rukh Khan speaks out

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Amid the Pathaan controversy and calls for boycott on Twitter, Khan gave a powerful speech on the adverse impacts of social media and the importance of cinema at the 28th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival.

The superstar pointed out how social media is “driven” by “narrowness of views” and added that negativity increases social media consumption and thereby increases its commercial value as well. “Such pursuits enclose the collective narrative, making it divisive and destructive,” he said.

He further said that cinema exposes the vulnerability of human nature by telling stories in their simplest form, as they are lived. “It allows us to know each other better. In a way, it is best placed to sustain a collective counter-narrative that speaks to the larger nature of humankind, a narrative that brings to the fore that humanity has immense capacity for compassion, unity and brotherhood.” Khan also emphasised how the world of cinema is a vehicle for people of different cultures, colours, castes, and religions to better understand each other.

Amitabh Bachchan chimed in and spoke about censorship and freedom of expression in Indian cinema. He said that despite the Cinematograph Act 1952 enforcement (creative freedom or artistic expression shall not be unreasonably curbed), Indian cinema still faces questions of civil liberties and freedom of speech.

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Politics of colour

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Last Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra asked for the makers of Pathaan to rectify the costumes, stating that failing to do so would mean that the release of the film in Madhya Pradesh would be in jeopardy. He also mentioned Shah Rukh Khan’s recent visit to Vaishno Devi temple and said that it was a good thing, but on the other hand, he criticised the presence of women actors in bikinis in SRK’s films.

Many Hindutva proselytisers deem the saffron colour to have a cultural significance and not just be fall season's favourite fashion colour. Also they were quick to point out that saffron is being called a ‘besharam rang’ without understanding the deeper meaning of the song that connotes the line to mean “the world hasn’t seen my true colours”.

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Many on social media who spoke in defence of the song gave comparisons to the Akshay Kumar song “Hare ram, hare krishna” from the 2007 film Bhool Bhulaiyaa, where he is seen in saffron robes along with scantily-clad women in the same colour. And others showed the picture of Kangana Ranaut drinking while donning an orange outfit in the film Tanu Weds Manu Returns. While none of this back-and-forth between social media users holds much merit, what we need is to protect artistic expression because a ban on “Besharam Rang” could upend free speech. It might be lousy content catering to the male gaze, but the manmade metaphors of colour is not one of its problems. If we allow such a song to be thrashed, there is a very thin line we are walking on where anything can be censored because it hurts someone’s sentiments. Freedom of expression does come with reasonable restrictions, but the imagery in the melody does not fit into the latter.