Modi Ji Ki Beti is Bollywood ki clickbaity

The upcoming Hindi film Modi Ji Ki Beti is slated for an October 2022 release but the trailer that just dropped has already got the Internet abuzz. Irrespective of how the film turns out to be, the name has served its clickbaiting purpose with the trailer racking up 3.7 lakh views in less than a day; a considerable number given the film's apparent low budget.

What is the movie about? Going by the trailer, the production budget is pretty substandard and the writing screams of forced laughter. The plot basically revolves around two Pakistani terrorists who aspire to be bigger than "Kasab". In their quest to become "world famous terrorists", they chance upon an Indian actress who claims that she's Indian PM Narendra Modi's daughter. As expected, the media laps it up with headlines such as "Hindustan mei 2000 ke note ki tarah hi raato raat paida hui Modi Ji ki beti (Modi Ji's beti is born overnight, just like the 2000-rupee note)." 

Naturally, the terrorist duo nab this apparent daughter and bring her to Pakistan, reverse Bajrangi Bhaijaan style. The woman however seems to outsmart her captors as more chaos ensues. 

Who are the cast and crew of the film? The titular daughter of PM Modi is played by a newcomer whose name is Avani...Modi. As for the two bumbling terrorists, they are still played by relatively familiar faces: Vikram Kochhar and Pitobash. Kochhar's filmography includes several Hindi advertisments along with bit roles in shows and films like Kesari, Angry Indian Goddesses, and Sacred Games in which he played the gangster Mathu. 

As for Pitobash, it is a pity that he isn't getting any major casting calls these days. No matter how brief his appearances are, the character actor still exhibits both dramatic and comedic energy; examples: in roles in Shor in the City, I Am Kalam, and even the Disney English-language sports drama Million Dollar Arm. Based on the true story of how two Indian boys got a chance to play professional baseball overseas, Million Dollar Arm has its fair share of delighful scenes, most of which feature Pitobash (an Indian translator who tags along with the boys). 

Modi Ji Ki Beti is produced and distributed by Brandex Music, a studio mostly involved with Punjabi music and films, and is directed by a certain Eddy Singh who has had no prior film experience. 

Any sentiments hurt so far? Only decent-cinema-loving people's, it seems. Going by the Twitter reactions, most of the public are just having a laugh about it or resorting to memes. At least, till now, there are no calls to boycott the film for offending anyone. And given that Modi Ji Ki Beti features no mainstream stars in its ensemble, it is too trivial a production to face the wrath of the #BoycottBollywood gang. 

With that being said, one can hope that the film does not rely on dated (and rather Islamophobic) cliches and tropes in its depiction of Pakistani characters. From the trailer, the annoyingly talkative protagonist keeps on babbling about how the dogs in Indian streets don't bark as much as Pakistanis drop bombs everyday. The mocking goes a level further when she remarks on how Indians go to "shauchalya" (toilet) instead of defecating in the open like Pakistanis. Funny or not, it just seems like tasteless humour. 

Other Indian satires on terrorism in Pakistan: Comparitively, even a "Bhai" film like Bajrangi Bhaijaan has done a better job at presenting a humanised potrayal of both sides of the border with Salman Khan's Hanuman-worshipping protagonist striking a friendship with Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Pakistani Muslim journalist Chand Nawab, all to return home to Pakistan a deaf-and-mute 6-year-old girl.

When it comes to Indian political satire set in Pakistan, the critically-acclaimed cult favourites Tere Bin Laden and Filmistaan seem like better alternatives. The former deals with a Pakistani journalist capitalising on a Bin Laden doppelganger. Filmistaan, on the other hand, deals with an Indian assistant director kidnapped by Pakistani terrorists over a misunderstanding. But as time progresses, one of his captors forms a soft spot for him; the two eventually bonding over their immense love for Bollywood. 

Like Modi Ji Ki Beti, both the aforementioned films jokingly address terrorism in Pakistan but with better satire and some believable non-caricature characters.