Is brand Salman invincible or astounding success of ‘Bharat’ just reflects regressive trend in our society?

It is this scream-line that set me thinking. While his 13th ₹200 crore movie keeps adding new gloss to his Brand Value, have his delirious fans [conveniently] forgotten his past deeds as a law-breaker and misogynist with scant respect for women, in thought, word and deed? Or are we, as a society today, clearly forgiving to glamorous and successful headliners because of the dazzling distractions and fantasies they colour our miserable, stressed-out lives with, dumping what’s wrong and unethical to the trash bin?

Polarised views come centre stage.

Delhi-based film critic Arnab Banerjee takes first strike. He believes that the earlier version of what’s right and wrong has been hugely compromised in today’s consumerist society’s prism. “Everything is up for sale. Success is the biggest aphrodisiac and the one who delivers is the one who wins. Money talks and Salman Khan has been constantly walking the talk for a long time. Besides, his fan-base profile is not exactly dominated with cineastes drawn to World Cinema or Quality fare. These are blind worshippers looking for content that celebrates the heroics of Dabangg, Bhaijaan and Sultan. There is no room for discussion, debate or explanation. His deification is non-negotiable. Period.”

Kolkata-based college student Shobha Ray sees red. “Bharat’s crazy opening and SK’s insane fan-following clearly indicates that success is everything, Might is right and majoritarianism rules! That’s bullcrap! These brainless dodos, culturally under-nourished duffers, confuse Box office with quality and mass appeal with class. These are cardboard cutouts cleverly designed to manipulate a cinema-illiterate crowd who are seduced by nautanki and performers NOT actors. No wonder despite their popularity, they are nowhere near a blimp on the radar of any respectable Film Fest of any worth, anywhere on earth!”

Delhi-based Designer Seema Sethi comes in with her own take. She reckons society is going through a flux. “On the one hand, they are hot n’ heavy on the #MeToo movement. On the other, you have a SK cracking sexist jokes on prime time TV on Priyanka Chopra with audiences enjoying it. It will take a while to settle down and get the basics right. Right now, confusion is confounded.”

There are other voices too. One section wonders “Why the surprise? Women have always been attracted to Bad Boys. They figure they are that way because of circumstances and the poor, misunderstood creatures can be transformed with love, compassion, care and understanding.”

Another lot believe that SK’s attitude to women “is the normal Indian male attitude. The urban guys do play-acting but scratch the surface and wow! As for beyond-the-metro males, this mindset rules. Naturally his sexist stance and jokes will be a source of fun to this chauvinistic Bhai-brigade! Get REAL guys – this is the real India!”

Who better to wrap up this discourse on Mera Bharat Mahan [pun intended] than brilliant social commentator Santosh Desai. “Get one thing straight – SK resides in a different stratosphere! His persona, roles and films attract a fan-base that is impervious to terms like misogynist because to them, he is the Real King Khan. It has largely to do with what he stands for – a brave, bold, fearless man who is fiercely loyal and protective about his family and friends. His films are an extension of this mission statement and provide the heroic machismo that they adore.

Aamir, SRK, Akshay and Ajay may have huge admirers, but SK has ‘Believers’! One negative tweet against him and all hell can break loose. His Being Human project and charitable deeds, after all can’t be denied. At another level, he may be involved with women, but he has never been tamed by them and this aspect too appeals to his constituency reflecting his true image of a MARD! Add to this, the fact that he remains unmarried but still stays with his parents and hasn’t moved away to a place of his own and loves his family ... so at the end of the day, his standing as a stand-alone guy, not dependent on any heroine, banner, director, script and is a one-man army seems real and his reputation as a recession and flop-proof Hero appears real too.”

Does that make Salman’s biggest adversary Sona Mahapatra’s lethal comments [“A Showcase and Poster Child of toxic masculinity who really is a Paper Tiger”] irrelevant and unimportant; a crazy, hysterical voice from the lunatic-fringe full of sound n’ fury translating to zero impact, result or response?