Mumbai : After minting success of the first season of web series Aashram, recently it's chapter 2 got released. In the series, Bobby Deol is portraying the role of antagonist Baba Nirala a self-styled Godmen with grey shade. The web series has stirred up some controversies as well, which was inevitable. However, Fiction is often inspired by reality. Perhaps expose of fake self-styled Godmen like Asaram Bapu and Baba Ram Rahim was the inspiration source for some filmmakers. Bollywood has made various films based on stories woven around shenanigans of self-styled fake Godmen and eventually their fall in the climax. This engaging formula is explored in both comedy and serious drama genre. Let's take a look at few Bollywood movies that exposed fake Godmen.
Jadugar
Back in 1980, a comedy thriller 'Jadugar' was released. Directed by Prakash Mehra the film had stars like Amitabh Bachhan, Jaya Prada, Aditya Pancholi, Amrita Singh, Pran and Amrish Puri. Despite the huge star cast, the film was dud at the box office. However, the character portrayed by Amrish Puri garnered the eyeballs of the audiences. In the film, he has played the role of fraud tantrik Mahaprabhu Jagatsagar Chintamani. Amitabh plays the role of a magician named Goga who exposes fraud tantrik as the film reaches climax.
Buddha Mar Gaya
Helmed by Rahul Rawail the comedy film 'Buddha Mar Gaya' was released in the year 2007. The film starred Anupam Kher, Om Puri, Paresh Rawal. Om Puri was seen depicting the role of a greedy Godman in the film. Although the movie was not impactful at the box office the role of Godmen played by Om Puri stayed with the audience.
OMG: Oh My God!
Oh My God! popularly called as 'OMG 'was hit among the masses in the year 2012. Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal starrer comedy film OMG captured the audiences' attention with the fascinating concept of God being sued by the protagonist. The movie is out and out satire on self-proclaimed and fraud Godmen. Mithun Chakravarty has played a pivotal character of Leeladhar Maharaj who cons innocent people in the name of God. Through humor, the movie has exposed fraudulent Godmen culture prevailing in the society intelligently in an interesting manner. Kudos to the director.
PK
PK is amongst one of its kind movies that can qualify for the cult category in coming decades. One of the masterpieces of Raj Kumar Hirani, it has an enthralling take on self-styled Godman who fools innocent people for his benefit. Actor Saurabh Shukla has marvelously depicted the role of con Pramukh Tapasvi Maharaj. The movie is a comical satire on fake Godmen and their blind followers.
Singham Returns
An action film directed by Rohit Shetty was released in the year 2014. The plot of the movie was exposing self -styled Godmen. Actor Amole Gupte has played the role the cunning and sly Swamiji who is embroiled with illegal arms and ammunition suppliers and also has nexus with a corrupt political party leader. Swamiji uses his influence on innocent people to get votes for the fake political party. The climax of the movie sees how heroically Singham unmask Swamiji to the innocent people. Perhaps we need Singham for real.
Chal Guru Ho Ja Shuru
This movie too was a comical satire on fake Godmen ominous to society. We have fake Godmen mushrooming all over the places, taking a cue from it struggling actors turn into fake Godmen to make quick money. The movie has actors like Hemant Pandey, Chandrachur Singh, Sanjay Mishra and Manoj Pahwa, all known for their excellent comic timing.
Global Baba
Directed by Manoj Tiwari, Global Baba was released in the year 2016. Abhimanyu Singh has played the lead character in the movie. He plays an absconding criminal, to evade police he becomes a Godman. His popularity as Godman reaches to a level where even police and ministers are his followers. The move is a satirical take on fraud and criminal Godman.
Sadak 2
Released in this year, Sadak 2 has received flak and bad reviews. However, the antagonist of the film played by Makrand Deshpande has garnered some spotlight. Makrand Deshpande has depicted the character of fraud Gyan Prakash. Alia Bhatt who portrays the character of Aarya is convinced that Gyan Prakash is responsible for her Mother's death. She launches an online campaign to unmask evil and fake Godman.
