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Screenwriter, lyricist and filmmaker Abbas Tyrewala, who has worked with filmmakers like Santosh Sivan, Farah Khan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Rajkumar Hirani, and Siddharth Anand, is currently working on contrasting films like War 2 and Pawan Kalyan’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu. In a recent interview, Tyrewala talked about the increasing showcase of Muslims as villains in movies.
In an interview to Lallantop Cinema, Tyrewala said, “Earlier, films were made by highly individualistic filmmakers. I worked with like-minded people, and there were hardly instances when the villainy or the political stance of a film made me cringe. But now, it isn’t the same. And I am not saying this because I am an Indian Muslim, but just that, from a writing point of view, it is just cliched to see another Muslim villain.”
Incidentally, Abbas Tyrewala is working on the dialogues of Hari Hara Veera Mallu, which features Bobby Deol as Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. “When Aurangzeb is the villain, there is a sense of importance that is accorded with his representation. Of course, there is the truth, which can’t be denied because it is there in our history, and then there is the exaggeration of truth for cinematic purposes. But there is no denying that what happened had happened,” said Tyrewala, adding that India’s strength still lies in its secular credentials, and the diversity and pluralism of the nation. “So, it makes me wonder if there is merit in oversimplifying the same old narrative and rekindle old wounds.”
Tyrewala is also candid enough to add that as a dialogue writer, it is important that he strikes a balance. “So, the balancing act is even more now. There was never a time when I had to think of a dominating political ideology in the country. So now, I work and navigate through it all. The thing is I don’t want to escape from this… but I don’t want to cater to it too,” said Tyrewala, adding that fame comes with its share of responsibility. “Sometimes, there are two truths to everything. What I actually am, and what I am as a writer, and I have to balance both.”
Recently, Aurangzeb was the primary antagonist in the runaway blockbuster, Chhaava, headlined by Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, and directed by Laxman Utekar. The character was played by the ever-reliable Akshaye Khanna, who has won plaudits for his role in the film, which has music by AR Rahman.
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