Bollywood, as even its most ardent admirers will admit, definitely has a touch of the bizarre. Exaggerated portrayals of personalities are the norm rather than the exception. But what if life, in a Hitchcockian twist, begins imitating art or what passes for it in Bombay´s moviedom?
Since the 1980s, Hindi films have portrayed screen politicians as the vilest of villains who often strut about with their own private army of goons. So, what lies in store for the Indian public? Private armies, no less, trained by every major contender in the upcoming polls to capture the state assembly of the Hindi heartland, Uttar Pradesh.
It all started with the Samajwadi Party (SJP) led by no less a personage than India´s Defence Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, announcing that it would set up a 'Lai Fauj', or Red Brigade. Mr Yadav told a party convention that the brigade would be used to wipe out 'insects' and 'snakes'. For 'insects', read the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and for 'snakes', the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the SJP´s arch rivals in the state. 'We have seen how the administration worked in favour of the BJP during the parliamentary elections. Our Red Brigade will prevent such attempts at rigging and also protect the booths,' an SJP leader announced to the press.
Mr Yadav´s bete noire, Kanshi Ram of the BSP, in true filmi style, could not resist such a challenge. He has announced that his party will raise a million-strong 'Neela Dasta', or Blue Brigade, 'to deter anti-social elements and supporters of Mulayam Singh Yadav from booth capturing.'