A couple of months ago I posted an article on a controversial Indian film titled Dear Friend Hitler. The film seeks to use a couple of letters written by Gandhi to Hitler during World War II as an entry way for a history lesson for Indians, many of whom are uneducated about the details. In that previous article I listed a number of reasons that this is a very, VERY bad idea. The most glaring of which is that, as I mentioned above, most Indians have very limited knowledge about World War II, the Nazis, and exactly how bad Hitler really was.
Back in May, shortly after my column was posted, the film was shown at the Cannes Marche du Film, which is a market for exhibitors and distributors in order to facilitate international rights to films. The Hollywood Reporter, bless their heart, sacrificed their time to view and review the film, and this is a part of what they had to say:
Until now, I'd been left with nothing but this review to ponder as I tried to imagine just how bad the film might be. Luckily for me, the Internet Gods are kind, and I found a promo reel created for that Marche du Film screening, and I will now share it with you. It is fucking awful. The entire Third Reich is played by Indian actors speaking either Hindi or ridiculously stilted English. Raghuvir Yadav, playing Hitler, can't be more than 4 ft 10 inches high, and the beautiful Neha Dhupia in a ridiculous red wig as Eva Braun (Brown) must be seen to be believed. Dhupia is one of India's more indie-friendly actresses, but this thing must be killed with fire. If Dear Friend Hitler plays near me, I will probably try to see it, but only out of morbid curiosity.
Last week's Deiva Thirumagal trailer with the autistic/developmentally delayed Dad dictating anachronistic fantasies to his daughter for bedtime has nothing on this. It doesn't end here either, I've got my eye on a couple of other hideously ill-conceived ideas making the rounds in Bollywood as well, but I don't want to spill those beans until I can confirm some stuff. In the meantime, enjoy (or don't) Dear Friend Hitler.
Back in May, shortly after my column was posted, the film was shown at the Cannes Marche du Film, which is a market for exhibitors and distributors in order to facilitate international rights to films. The Hollywood Reporter, bless their heart, sacrificed their time to view and review the film, and this is a part of what they had to say:
Mel Brooks has got to see this one: Somebody has actually made Springtime for Hitler, but called it Dear Friend Hitler. The funniest thing about this film from India is that it's dead-on serious, replete with all Indian actors playing the leaders of the Third Reich...The whole review is basically a listing of what not to do with a film. That being said, apparently the domestic and international distribution rights have been purchased, and the film is set to roll into theaters internationally on July 29th.
Crudely intercutting Hitler's bunker days with Gandhi's countryside preachings and cramming it with a bathetic Indian romance, director Ranjan Kumar has lofted forth a creative stink bomb...
Indicative of the ineptitude here, the film's subtitles spell out "Eva Brown" which, like most of film, is unintentionally funny and jarringly incompetent.
Until now, I'd been left with nothing but this review to ponder as I tried to imagine just how bad the film might be. Luckily for me, the Internet Gods are kind, and I found a promo reel created for that Marche du Film screening, and I will now share it with you. It is fucking awful. The entire Third Reich is played by Indian actors speaking either Hindi or ridiculously stilted English. Raghuvir Yadav, playing Hitler, can't be more than 4 ft 10 inches high, and the beautiful Neha Dhupia in a ridiculous red wig as Eva Braun (Brown) must be seen to be believed. Dhupia is one of India's more indie-friendly actresses, but this thing must be killed with fire. If Dear Friend Hitler plays near me, I will probably try to see it, but only out of morbid curiosity.
Last week's Deiva Thirumagal trailer with the autistic/developmentally delayed Dad dictating anachronistic fantasies to his daughter for bedtime has nothing on this. It doesn't end here either, I've got my eye on a couple of other hideously ill-conceived ideas making the rounds in Bollywood as well, but I don't want to spill those beans until I can confirm some stuff. In the meantime, enjoy (or don't) Dear Friend Hitler.
Video
Hitler Intro Video
Yup, Bollywood is insane. Please tell me there are musical numbers?
Mr. Hurtado, would you care to explain your justification of claiming most Indians are "uneducated" about Hitler because, without proof, it just comes across as an offensive statement.
This I gotta see.
I don't see clearly anything offensive or "uneducated" here about the subject matter.
There has been lots of comedies, science fiction, exploitation and even inglorious basterds out there. So what's the problem with that one? Has anyone seen this already, except the reviewer at Cannes?
it's surprising how Hilter the tyrant still lives amongst us:/
Guys!! I apologize on behalf of my insensitive countrymen.
I hope some of the recent good cinema that has come out of India will over shadow this abomination of a film.
Often wonder how far Gandhi might have got if he'd been up against the Third Reich as opposed to the British Empire.
the first time i saw the trailer i was laughing and the next time i was on the floor .. indian movies are becoming silly .. i am an indian i can barely tolerate them.. we carry aspirin to movies if we wanna make it through..
Interesting article, but it seems to me that you are looking at this in a typical Euro-centric lens that one cannot blame you for doing. I think it is extremely hypocritical to call a certain country uneducated when many Americans cannot place the country Iraq on a map. It is absolutely acceptable for you to speak your mind and say that you did not like the movie. I myself didn't care for it either, but you should be careful from making sweeping claims about a community that you clearly have no idea about. If you thought this movie was a horrible representation of history then I suggest you watch 300 sometime....