Read the full article on Firstpost, here: https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/with-the-release-of-kaala-heres-a-quick-tour-of-political-cinema-from-around-the-world-4505139.html
The release of Pa Ranjith’s Kaala, starring Rajinikanth, has brought politics back into filmmaking. The film isn’t entirely successful, but its most incendiary passages made me wonder if there is another instance, anywhere in the world, of a famous star being used to convey the director’s ideology. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman in All the President’s Men? A political film, yes, but it’s not the director’s politics – it was based on a book. Syriana? Perhaps. But then, George Clooney wasn’t exactly the central figure. Charlie Wilson’s War, with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts? Close, but no cigar. The Great Dictator, with Charlie Chaplin, may come closest in the sense of a huge star combined with ripped-from-the-headlines urgency, but satire – even stunning satire, like the legendary globe scene in the clip below – has a way of softening the sting.
So yes, Kaala may be unique – but let’s take a look at other political works, like Gillo Pontecorvo’s The Battle of Algiers. A flier announcing the documentary-style film, before a 2004 screening at the Pentagon, said: “Children shoot soldiers at point-blank range. Women plant bombs in cafes. Soon the entire Arab population builds to a mad fervor. Sound familiar?” Despite this cheeky reference to the modern day, The Battle of Algiers is a classical David vs. Goliath story, about the Algerian uprising against French colonists. But current-day resonances are undeniably present, especially in the following clip, set during a press conference that shows a colonel justifying “methods” used during the war. “What form of questioning must we adopt? Civil law procedures, which take months for a mere misdemeanour?” A journalist says, dryly, “Legality can be inconvenient,” but the colonel has no time for sarcasm. He asks, “Is it legal to set off bombs in public places?” The film came over five decades ago – there’s still no answer.
Continued at the link above.
Copyright ©2018 Firstpost.
Baradwaj Rangan 
MANK
June 11, 2018
What? you didnt mention Bertolucci’s 1900. an italian communist director using american money and major stars – De Niro , deparediu, ;Lancaster, etc to propagate his dreamy eyed vision of communism, a mammoth 51/2 hr epic, it doesn’t get any bigger than that
Another instance, Warren Beatty’s Reds , An american Liberal moviestar\ director released a 31\2 hr epic movie about an american communist at the height of the Reagan era and Reagan even liked the film. try beating that
The same could be said about Oliver Stone using Kevin Costner in JFK for propagating his rather crazy political conspiracy theories.
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Vikram S
June 11, 2018
BR, that was an exhaustive and nuanced write-up… thanks…
Also, despite all the irrelevant stuff being flung into the Kaala thread, I appreciate the grace with which you have chosen to respond :-))
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Mohan Sagar (@Mohan0128)
June 11, 2018
It’s like comparing a college term paper with a 5th grader’s book review. Kaala is like none of the other films because it cannot begin to compete in the big leagues. It’s a representation of Pa Ranjith’s failings as both writer and director.
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Tina
June 12, 2018
To me, any movie with have-nots is a political movie though I am also aware that ALL poverty is not political.
But may be the ones you mention are overtly political. But once you wear the political lens, a lot of movies fall here I guess.
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Tina
June 12, 2018
Sorry, just to add why I say that – because usually there is some politics behind how some people end up ‘not having’
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brangan
June 12, 2018
Tina: If you really look at it, the personal IS political in tbe broad sense of the term. But I guess one makes these distinctions to discuss the explicitly political films (vis a vis the ones where the politics is less upfront).
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Anu Warrier
June 12, 2018
BR, I would add ‘To Be or Not to Be as political satire – the original film was released in 1942, making it a brave attempt for the times.
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pessimist
June 12, 2018
BR, how do you see the political Tamil films from the 60s and 70s? People have made arguments that the Dravidian movement would not have succeeded without those films, but I’m not really aware of them and how directly political they were.
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Indira
June 13, 2018
Citizen Kane
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kaizokukeshav
June 13, 2018
Politics, war, survival … sounds like a Schindler’s List to me. Apocalypse Now is another cold commentary on the morals during Vietnam war. Hotel Rwanda is another gem based on real story.
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amar
June 28, 2018
that’s really good information we get to read here about some of the best political cinemas around the world.
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