The films claim to tell the “real story” of India’s history, taking aim at the evils of “leftists” and “intellectuals” and even the freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. As Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) seek a third term in next month’s election, a feverish pro-government momentum has gripped Bollywood, blurring the lines between entertainment and political campaigning in India’s largest film industry.
Almost a dozen new films promoting the