Bollywood set to make a movie about Hitler's love life

Named ‘Dear Friend Hitler’ in honor of how Gandhi once began a letter to the infamous dictator, the film will throw away typical Bollywood film characteristics—“lip-synched singing, exuberant dancing and wet sari scenes” [ABC]—in favor of a subtle romance & drama. “It will be a romance, but not in the typical sense,” said film director Kumar.

Although it will indeed focus on Hitler’s close relationship with Eva Braun, it will also portray his “relationships with his close associates,” said Anupam Kher, the veteran Bollywood actor chosen to play Hitler. Former Miss India Neha Dhupia will play Eva Braun, whom Hitler wed approximately fifteen hours before their suicide on April 30, 1945.

“We will try to show his fears, insecurities and pressures he faced while taking crucial decisions,” chimed in Anil Sharma, the film’s producer.

The film’s announcement has caused quite a stir in India and abroad. There is speculation that the film will attempt to show how Hitler indirectly contributed to India’s independence in 1947, in that by weakening Britain, Hitler supposedly forced the financially strapped British to relinquish their control of the country. That’s mere hogwash, however, as it was in fact the US government that pressured the British to finally grant India independence.

The underlying problem is that many Indians have not been educated about the Holocaust. UK Guardian blogger Alex von Tunzelmann explains: “Characters in Bollywood films jokingly refer to bossy family members as ‘Hitler’ – provoking a sharp intake of breath from many western viewers, who associate Hitler with crimes significantly worse than telling you to do your chores. In 2006, a Nazi-themed cafe opened in Mumbai with the name Hitler’s Cross. Bollywood actor Murli Sharma attended the launch party. Asked whether he found the name troublesome, he said: ‘I am not really agitated as I have not read much about the man. However, from what I know about Hitler, I find this name rather amusing.’”

Ignorance is bliss, but is it excusable bliss? Anyway, according to ABC News, the film will cost between $2 million to $3 million, be shot on location in India’s forests & mountains, and be released internationally in either late 2010 or early 2011.


/Weird Asia News/