In BJP, Congress, AAP, SP's political fistfight over Jawan, Shah Rukh Khan is the real winner

Within a week of the release of Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan, it has set several box-office opening records for a Hindi film. Grossing over Rs 621.40 crore worldwide so far, it has emerged as the third highest-grossing Indian film of 2023 and the 11th highest-grossing Indian film.

The Atlee directorial masala actioner has not only garnered praise from critics for its explicit socio-political commentary but has also been hailed by politicians and parties across the spectrum for highlighting issues like farmers' plight, ill-fate of government-run hospitals, dodgy defence procurements and the importance of democratic participation.

A political fistfight

Subsequently, political parties are engaged in a claim game where leaders and supporters from the ruling party, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and the principal Opposition party, Indian National Congress, as well as the Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party, have been attributing the shown issues to each other's tenure and patting their own backs for fixing them.

What remains to be seen is if any of these parties declare Jawan tax-free in the states ruled by them.

Congress targets BJP

• After the release of Jawan, Congress leaders and supporters were quick to respond by attributing the issues highlighted in the movie to the BJP's misdoings on farmer suicides, massive loan write-off for the rich, a dilapidated healthcare system, oxygen shortage, missing EVMs, environmental degradation and reckless industrialisation.

• Congress Chairperson of Social Media and Digital Platforms, Supriya Shrinate called the movie a "bold and brave one", hailing it for "the women at the centre stage fighting for justice".
• Some posts from Congress handles even went as far as congratulating the makers of Jawan for releasing the movie on the anniversary of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which has Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi at the helm.

• Another member handle mentioned the scene of Shah Rukh's character raising a hand, hinting to endorse the Congress party, whose election symbol is a 'hand/palm'.

BJP thanks Shah Rukh Khan

• The recent post by BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on X (formerly Twitter) took the credit-snatch to a whole new level, thanking Shah Rukh Khan for "exposing the corrupt, policy paralysis ridden Congress rule from 2004 to 2014" and reminding "all viewers of the tragic political past during the UPA government".
• He even linked the Jawan dialogue, "Hum jawaan hain, apni jaan hazaar baar daon par laga sakte hain, lekin sirf desh ke liye, tumhare jaise desh bechne walo ke liye hargiz nahi" to the Gandhi family.

• Apart from this, the post also lays out an elaborate 'analysis' of how the Congress party was the one to be blamed for all the wrongs shown in Jawan.
• While chalking these details out, he seems to have missed mentioning the oxygen scarcity episode in the film that is based on the real-life 2017 Gorakhpur incident, which claimed the death of 63 children due to lack of oxygen cylinders. The portrayal of the wrongful framing of Dr Eeram (played by Sanya Malhotra) also holds a close resemblance to what happened with Dr Kafeel Khan.
• Bhatia also hit out Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of double standards, who had earlier praised the film saying the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) transformed education and health in Delhi.

AAP enters the ring

• AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also caught up, commenting on the film's messaging on good healthcare, quality education and the evil practices of vote-mongering and corruption.
• Speaking at a public rally, Kejriwal asked, "If the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government and the Delhi government can bring in a revolution in education and healthcare, why can't they?"

• He also urged the people in the rally to watch the film, calling it a 'good' one and added, "Only AAP asks for votes on the promise of providing education to their children."

Why should SP miss out on the fun

• Samajwadi Party head and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also took to X congratulating the actors, makers and everyone who is associated with Jawan.

• He hailed the film as a "call for awareness" that delivers "entertainment along with a responsible messaging", and underlined the significance of cinema as a medium to bring about change and move the country forward.

While political parties are all scrambling to snatch a piece of the pie that is Jawan, nothing changes the truth: inequality in India persists on multiple fronts, and it is an obligation of the government to confront and redress these issues.

The loud and clear message from Jawan is that the challenges that continue to infest India even after 75 years of Independence can only be mended through the collective voice and vote of an informed and enlightened citizenry.

And while political parties fight it out on social media and rallies, Shah Rukh Khan and director Atlee are the ones having the last laugh as Jawan's box office juggernaut continues.