Christianity in Bollywood – In Dire Need Of a Reality Check

Easter is that time of the year when I miss my state, Kerala, quite a lot. Unlike Christmas or Diwali, this festival isn’t really “celebrated” across the country. Having grown up relishing Easter delicacies, being part of reunions and the works, the season calls for instant nostalgia. Currently living in Mumbai, I observe it being silently celebrated within the Christian community, of which I am technically not a part. Perhaps this is the case with most metros and states, barring Goa, Kerala, Meghalaya, Manipur, and a few other corners with a sizeable Christian population. This brings me to the thought of the authenticity in the portrayals of Christianity in Bollywood.

The Same Old Bollywood Lines

“Oh Jesus!”
“Jesus tumhara help karega…”
“Whisky or vodka?”
“Tumko kya mangta hai?”
“Main God se pray karungi!”

Do they sound familiar?

If they happen to project Christianity in Bollywood movies, the characters are bound to utter these rule-book dialogues more often than not. Are these template portrayals a correct representation of the community in India? The answer is a big NO.

Of course, there will be followers of Christianity who stay within their own circles. I have heard about this from a few Goan friends. But the majority do not follow the “O Jesus” lingo anymore, as Bollywood tells us. A Delhi-based Christian youngster will be as spontaneous with the region’s famous expletive-ridden lingo as any other person. And yes, usage of curse words in daily conversation is totally normal.

When It Actually Worked

Although we cannot label it as an example of Christianity in Bollywood in the truest sense, 36 Chowringhee Lane is one of the most delectable representations of a Catholic character. The film traverses the listless life of Anglo-Indian English teacher Violet Stoneham in Kolkata. From supporting characters that have not come out of the British colonial hangover to the protagonist’s lack of awareness about Hindu wedding rituals, the film was made in English for a reason.

Anari had one of the most beautifully written Christian characters in Mrs. D’Sa, played with absolute heart by Lalita Pawar. A successor of this character did not really work in Saagar though.

The Fun Ones and the Misses

Oh, how much we enjoyed watching Ms. Braganza (Archana Puran Singh) in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Her tete-a-tetes with Mr. Malhotra (Anupam Kher) were among the film’s highlights. Progressive and total eye candy, she was comic relief without too many clichés.

That said, the same film also had Almeida (Johny Lever), whose religion was mocked by a condescending, preachy grandmother for no real reason.

In Khamoshi: The Musical, Sanjay Leela Bhansali dressed his characters according to the region, not religion, and made them speak the common man’s language. Manisha Koirala’s Annie Braganza was everything a young Goan woman would look like.

His later films, like Black and Guzaarish, however, did not quite explore this balance and leaned more towards indulgence. And among other things, the less said the better about the alcoholism stereotype around Christian families in Bollywood.

Where Are the Male Leads?

From the archetypal fallen woman in Julie and Cocktail to dutiful housemaids in Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge and 7 Khoon Maaf, to elfin leading ladies in Bombay Velvet, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu and more, we have seen plenty of women who practice Christianity in Bollywood.

Yet the wait for a proper Christian male lead in Hindi cinema remains.

Most of them either appear in films where all characters are Christian, like Baton Baton Mein, Josh, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai, Finding Fanny, or in multi-hero setups like Amar Akbar Anthony.

Why can’t we have a Christian Ranbir Kapoor wooing a Hindu Deepika Padukone in a film as youthful and commercial as Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani? Do our filmmakers think audiences will reject such characters? If they are written in the same Bollywoodised way, then yes, they probably will.

Safe Play or Reality?

For starters, a regular Christian person living outside an “interpreted” religious clique is as contemporary as any non-Christian. Why don’t filmmakers open their eyes to people within the industry itself?

Asin and Jacqueline Fernandes do the thumkas as well as any mainstream heroine. John Abraham is, by his own admission, a typical Bandra boy, yet he has rarely played a Christian character on screen.

Remo D’Souza could make Deepika and Priyanka perform a Marathi-flavoured Pinga, while Vinil Mathew made Hasee Toh Phasee without leaning into any expected quirks.

The whole case is not about ignorance. It is about blatant safe play. It is easier to feed audiences familiar notions than to create a modern, believable Christian hero.

A Quick Look Down South

South India has been more open in that sense as compared to the projections of Christianity in Bollywood. Kerala is naturally ahead, given its population, but other industries too have explored such characters. Minsara Kanavu, dubbed in Hindi as Sapnay, comes to mind. It had an interesting take on religion, even if the outcome of the love story leaves you thinking.

Let’s close this with a beautiful prayer on Jesus, composed by A.R. Rahman for Sapnay. Written by Javed Akhtar and rendered by Anuradha Sriram, it is communal harmony at its best.