Films on communal harmony that restored our faith in secular India

While the constant debate of communal tension and communal harmony in India grabs headlines every other day there have been instances when certain films have explored friendship, love and selflessness by people of different allegiances towards those from other backgrounds than theirs in the most honest way. Check out this elite list of Tollywood films that are bound to restore your faith in humanity and your country.

The Nandita Roy-Shiboprasad Mukherjee directed film talks about religious harmony in times of growing intolerance and communal polarisation. 'Gotro' (clan) is also a celebration of neighbourly love without discrimination. In the film, a controversy erupts when a member of a particular community serves bhog at a Hindu household and the film spreads the important message that there is no bigger religion than humanity in this world.

Saibal Mitra’s film highlights various layers of society- from minority issues to religious agendas the film delves into various important aspects. The film is based on the famous play, Inherit the Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E Lee. The story revolves around how a teacher of science denies teaching a book of religion before his usual science class which is then blown out of proportion, getting him arrested. A trial follows that questions the importance and need of science versus religion.

Prasun Chatterjee’s film which has already created a lot of buzz in its festival round explores love, loss and tragedy amidst political upheaval. Set in Murshidabad in the late 90s amidst the increasing tensions between Hindu-Muslim communities in India, the hard-hitting story explores the evolution of an innocent and heartwarming friendship between two eight-year-olds belonging to the opposing communities. The critically acclaimed film is expected to release in theatres in September.

The Raj Chakraborty directorial which is releasing on August 11 revolves around a small town of Ismailpur, which suffers an apocalyptic night as the town descends to anarchy as a sudden communal riot breaks out. Four victims, rivals to each other, take shelter in an old woman’s home, who awaits her son’s arrival. Conflicts break out within the four members as the outside anxiety grips all of them, with the old woman playing the role of a pacifier throughout the fateful night. As dawn cracks, the four members are met with conscience as the old woman’s crestfallen truth unravels upon them; thus bringing upon the realization that humanity is the foremost religion.

Indraadip Das Gupta’s film which releases on August 19 addresses communal harmony through Indian classical music. We are going through a time where we need to remind ourselves because history is constantly demolished and there is a successful, consolidated effort to make people forget their own history of civilization. The film also focuses on the tradition of a musical family and how foreign intrusion creates disturbance in it. It delineates the journey and evolution of a musician.