R Madhavan Defends Portraying Indian Identity in Films, Challenges ‘Propaganda’ Label
Mumbai, India – Acclaimed actor and filmmaker R Madhavan has forcefully addressed recent criticisms leveled against his work, including the ‘Dhurandhar’ franchise and his directorial debut, ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’. Madhavan expressed bewilderment over the accusation that portraying Indian identity or showcasing the nation’s positive attributes automatically equates to propaganda, asserting that such a stance is illogical.
R Madhavan Explains His Approach to Politics and Public Opinion
Madhavan articulated that his perspectives are deeply rooted in his upbringing, which emphasized the importance of country and positive contributions to society. He clarified his consistent avoidance of public affiliation with any specific political party or leader.
“Everybody is a product of their conditioning. From a young age, I was taught that our country is the most important to us, as well as what we do for it. If you look at my social media posts or interviews, you can see that I have never spoken ill of any political party, politician, or political leader. If someone does something good, like Stalin sir (former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin), for instance, I praise them immediately,” Madhavan stated during a conversation with Galatta Plus.
The actor elaborated that he chooses to speak out only when he genuinely believes something warrants appreciation, opting for silence on subjects where he harbors uncertainty.
“I have decided that I will do only good, and if I have doubts about something, I won’t talk about it. When an elected politician becomes a Prime Minister or a Chief Minister, I believe it is my duty to support them. To date, no party — be it Tamil Nadu or at the national level – has approached me asking me to promote them, or inviting me to join them.”
Why Criticism on Social Media Does Not Influence R Madhavan
Discussing online reactions, Madhavan revealed that social media criticism does not sway his decisions regarding what to express. He acknowledged that such reactions might stem from frustration but maintained that it shouldn’t deter him from recognizing achievements that inspire national pride.
“If something good is happening in our country… For instance, if I post about a sportsperson who is performing well and bringing the nation fame, that’s because I feel that’s the right thing to do. If someone’s making me feel bad about that, then I will question their intent,” he remarked.
R Madhavan Challenges the Propaganda Tag
The conversation pivoted to ‘Dhurandhar’, a spy thriller starring Ranveer Singh, and its sequel, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, which garnered both acclaim and criticism, with some labeling them as propaganda. Madhavan drew parallels to a similar debate that arose following his work on ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’, which was criticized by some for its pronounced Indian perspective.
Responding to the notion of a film being “overly Indian,” Madhavan challenged the fundamental premise. “I don’t understand how being an Indian can be seen as a wrong thing.”
He further elaborated on why he perceives the portrayal of Indian culture or identity in cinema as inherently non-political.
“What does it mean by ‘being overly Indian’? I don’t know. Is it not okay to show myself as being ‘too Indian’? I don’t know. That’s not my conditioning; I showed that. This is not even a political statement. Dhurandhar was based in Pakistan. Good and bad things happen there as well, just as much as they do in India. So, I don’t understand what the ‘propaganda’ in it is,” he said.
Staying Faithful to Nambi Narayanan’s Story
Madhavan also defended his choices in portraying aerospace scientist Nambi Narayanan in ‘Rocketry’. He argued that accurately depicting aspects of an individual’s life should not be misconstrued as the filmmaker endorsing a specific ideology.
“In Nambi sir’s (aerospace scientist Nambi Narayanan) case, I only showed what happened in his life. How can I be honest with the story if I am afraid to show who he really is? He is a person who goes to the temple. GD Naidu (inventor and engineer), on the other hand, is a nastik (atheist). So, we can’t show such things (him going to temples) in the movie. I have to be true to that character.”
Madhavan stressed that an actor’s portrayal of a character should not be automatically conflated with their personal beliefs. “Because of that, one can’t say that I don’t believe in god or vice versa. I am an actor, and my job is to portray things as they are. My personal opinion is that I want to enhance all the good things about India. That cannot be a crime.”
His Method of Identifying Online Trolls
Madhavan also shared his approach to discerning genuine online criticism from malicious trolling. He explained that beyond evaluating the comment itself, he scrutinizes the account’s metadata. “Look at their comment first, and then find out when they created their account, and how many followers they have. Through these steps, one can easily figure out if it’s a bot or a paid account.”
Madhavan’s most recent appearance was in ‘GDN’, directed by Krishnakumar Ramakumar. The film, based on the life of inventor and engineer GD Naidu, features Madhavan in the titular role alongside Sathyaraj, Jayaram, Priyamani, and Dushara Vijayan in prominent roles.
