Neeraj Ghaywan slams Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan as ‘one of the most dehumanised depictions of Dalits ever in cinema’

Speaking about Lagaan, he told Hindustan Times, “It has the Savarna Saviour Complex of having an oppressor-caste hero ‘emancipate’ a Dalit. It may have been real in that era but the take should have been progressive to include a layer of assertion coming from within the community. Such depiction inadvertently normalises casteism. It celebrates saviours but puts the oppressed in the same cycle of being a perpetual victim.”

He further stated that it is insensitive to make a ‘funny’ commercial on an actual social issue. He said, “It is even more insensitive in using this character to make a ‘funny’ commercial about sustainable recycling. It ends up being tone-deaf to depict the character as a human footstool and various objects. It literally dehumanises by way of straight up objectifying. Companies need to have an inclusivity orientation.”

Zomato, after facing flack on social media, pulled down this particular ad and issued an apology. They wrote, “While the ad has been pulled down, Zomato has also issued an apology on Twitter. “On world environment day, our intent was to spread awareness about the potential of plastic waste and benefits of recycling in a humorous way. Unintentionally, we may have hurt the sentiments of certain communities and individuals. We have taken down the video.”

Ghaywan had previously spoken about his caste identity in an interview with Indian Express. “I can’t pinpoint when I became aware of my caste identity (Dalit) though it always loomed large. When you get a certain benefit like ‘reservation’ based on your caste, there is a persecution complex that you inherit. No matter what, you imagine people around you gazing at you. I had always hidden my caste from my friends in school and college,” he said.