Blinded by its opposition to Pakistan, Bollywood appears to have lost the ability to create fresh content, forcing filmmakers to rely on old films and songs - a trend now being openly criticized by voices within India itself.
Renowned Bollywood lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar has strongly criticized the makers of the anti-Pakistan film Border 2, questioning their reliance on recycled material.
In an interview with Indian media, Javed Akhtar said that when original songs have already achieved extraordinary success, there is no justification for presenting them again in a new form.
He stressed that filmmakers should either create new, high-quality music or openly admit that they are no longer capable of maintaining the standards of the past.
Akhtar revealed that it was for this very reason that he refused to write lyrics for Border 2.
It is worth recalling that the songs of the original Border, released in 1997, were written by Javed Akhtar himself. Due to this legacy, he was approached again for the sequel, but he declined the offer.
According to Akhtar, reusing old songs amounts to “creative bankruptcy.”
He also raised serious questions about the growing trend of remaking songs in films, saying that what belongs to the past should be left there.
Actor Varun Dhawan who defended the content of the movie. Clapping back at the trolls, he said "I believe that you shut down the noise and just let your work do the talking."
He added "I believe in the film. It's very important to make a good film. I'm not concerned with numbers. I believe we made a good film. That's the most important thing.”
In his view, if new films are being made, their music should also be new - rather than relying on the successes of a bygone era.
