The Conservative Attack on Bollywood

Plus: Angela Lansbury; the people vs. palm trees; and how Barney conquered America. View in browser | Update your preferences Thursday, October 13, 2022 In today’s newsletter, the taming of Bollywood, and then: • Angela Lansbury shimmered through the decades • The people vs. palm trees • How Barney conquered America When the Hindu Right Came for Bollywood The industry used to honor India’s secular ideals—but, since the rise of Narendra Modi, it’s been flooded with stock Hindu heroes and Muslim villains. Illustration by Avinash Weerasekera “For nearly a century, Bollywood has . . . worn the warm, self-satisfied gloss of being a passion that unifies a country of divisions,” Samanth Subramanian writes, in an illuminating reported piece in this week’s issue. “Not only are its audiences as mixed as India itself, filmmakers will say, but Bollywood is a place where caste and religion don’t matter.” At least, that was always the story—an entertainment juggernaut producing a thousand or so movies a year and representing a cosmopolitan vision of India at home and abroad. But whatever claims this version had to the truth have eroded in the face of the pervasive Hindu nationalism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his political followers, who through direct and indirect pressure have led to a warped and diminished slate of productions coming out of Bollywood, full of stock Muslim villains and “in lockstep with the right wing’s bigotry.” It’s an urgent reminder of the toll that political extremism, market forces, and self-censorship can take on a vital art form. —Ian Crouch, newsletter editor Read the story Support The New Yorker’s award-winning journalism. Subscribe today » From the News Desk Q. & A. North Carolina’s Overlooked Senate Race Democrats have a chance to flip a Republican seat. Meanwhile, the state legislature is fighting to reduce judicial oversight in federal elections. By Isaac Chotiner Essay Who’s Left Out of the Learning-Loss Debate Critics of school closures undermine the two groups who could do the most to help students recover—parents and teachers. By Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor Editor’s Pick Cultural Comment The Unbearable Blandness of “Barney” A new documentary explores how a singing dinosaur charmed—and perhaps rightfully enraged—a nation. By Sarah Larson Culture Dept. Postscript Angela Lansbury Shimmered Through the Decades The actress, who died this week at ninety-six, revealed every facet of her talents. By Michael Schulman The Front Row “Tár,” Reviewed: Regressive Ideas to Match Regressive Aesthetics Starring Cate Blanchett as a conductor accused of misconduct, the film takes bitter aim at so-called cancel culture. By Richard Brody Your Own Back Yard The People vs. Palm Trees The landscape designer Lily Kwong wants to replace L.A.’s exotic plants with native species, which satisfy the allergy constraints of her husband, Nick Kroll. By Sheila Yasmin Marikar Fun & Games Dept. Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Matt Jackson Daily Shouts wikiHows That Hit Too Close to Home How to Remove the Mouse from Your Kitchen, Even if It’s the Only Thing Staving Off Your Loneliness By Julia Edelman and Ginny Hogan Crossword A Beginner-Friendly Puzzle “Fingers crossed!”: six letters. By Robyn Weintraub Daily Cartoon Thursday, October 13th By Paul Noth P.S. Speaking of Barney, here’s a curiosity from our archive that merits a closer look: writing about the evolving roles of First Ladies in American politics, Amy Davidson Sorkin noted that “Michelle Obama once protected the intellectual property of Barney the Dinosaur.” Huh? Davidson Sorkin wasn’t referring to some White House initiative but to Obama’s early career spent as an associate at the Sidley Austin law firm, where, among other duties, she was tasked with “looking after the legal concerns” (as Obama puts it in her memoir) of the goofy purple beast. Today’s newsletter was written by Ian Crouch. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up for The Daily. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2022. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.