Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirauha' on criticism over Bhojpuri cinema objectifying women, promoting vulgar content
Mumbai, July 18
Bhojpuri superstar and actor-politician Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known as Nirauha, has weighed in on the long-standing criticism surrounding Bhojpuri cinema, including allegations of objectifying women and promoting vulgar content.
The actor firmly expressed that it is unfair to judge an entire film industry based on a handful of projects.
Speaking to IANS, Nirahua said that every regional and national film industry produces a wide variety of content, and Bhojpuri cinema should not be singled out.
"I feel that in every industry, every kind of cinema is made, every kind of content is made. Just like there's Bollywood, South Indian cinema, Bhojpuri cinema and Marathi cinema, every industry caters to every section of the audience," he said.
Addressing the perception that Bhojpuri films mostly feature objectionable content, Nirahua explained that such an image is created when only a particular category of films is highlighted out of the rest.
"But when we highlight the work of just one particular section, it starts feeling like that's the only kind of work happening there. That isn't true. Good work and bad work happen everywhere," he added.
The actor further emphasised that flaws exist across all industries and should not be used to define an entire fraternity.
"I will say a very good line, 'Lakh aur burai sab mein hoti hai. Koi bhi insaan kami se pare nahi hota. Jahan gulaab mein kaante na hon, aisa baag dikha dijiye.' It happens everywhere. It's only because certain things get highlighted that people begin to believe that's all there is," he said.
One of the biggest stars in Bhojpuri cinema, Nirahua has headlined several successful films, including 'Nirahua Rickshawala', 'Nirahua Hindustani', 'Patna Se Pakistan', 'Border', 'Sipahi', 'Jigarwala' and 'Nirahua Chalal London'.
His collaborations with actress Amrapali Dubey, in particular have been popular among audiences.
Apart from Bhojpuri films, the actor has also expanded his presence in Hindi entertainment.
He was recently seen in the OTT series, 'Gram Chikitsalaya' Season 2, where his performance received a positive response from viewers. The show also received great reviews from audience and critics alike.
The show also starred Amol Parashar, Vinay Pathak, Akanksha Ranjan.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I agree that we shouldn't judge an entire industry, but let's be honest - Bhojpuri cinema has a *lot* of item songs with cringe lyrics. My grandparents even feel uncomfortable watching some films now. Nirahua is a great actor, but he should also acknowledge that the industry needs to evolve. We can't just say 'sab mein hota hai' - we need to address our own problems too.
Coming from the US, I find this debate fascinating. In Hollywood, we have similar arguments about regional cinema like Bollywood or Tollywood. The key is that every industry has both art and commerce. Nirahua's point about highlighting only certain films is valid - it creates a skewed perception. But the industry also needs to self-regulate, because rural audiences deserve better too.
'Lakh aur burai sab mein hoti hai' - brilliant line by Nirahua ji! It's true, same complaints exist in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam cinema too. But the way Bhojpuri films are mocked by elites in Mumbai is sad. Our industry may not have big budgets, but our stories connect with heartland India. Proud of Nirahua for speaking up! 🙌
I've watched some Bhojpuri films to understand the culture, and honestly, the double meaning dialogues and skimpy costumes in item songs are quite jarring. But then I remember similar elements in some Bollywood films. The issue is that Bhojpuri cinema lacks the variety that Bollywood offers - more family dramas, comedies, and content-driven films. Nirahua's point about highlighting only one section is valid, but the industry needs more diverse stories to change perception.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.