A great deal happens in the first episode of the Amazon Prime Video series Tandav . The country’s prime minister is re-elected by a landsli...
A great deal happens in the first episode of the Amazon Prime Video series Tandav. The country’s prime minister is re-elected by a landslide but before he occupies the throne once more, he is murdered by his power-hungry son. A protest by farmers against a proposed special economic zone involves students from a major university in Delhi. They are quickly labelled as “terrorists” by the police.
Back at the university, an allegorical stage production is in progress. The main character is called Bholenath, another name for the god Shiva. Playing Bholenath is a magnetic student leader, also called Shiva.
A Naarad Muni-like character reminds Bholenath that “these Ram followers” are increasing their social media reach. Bholenath jokes, should I update my display picture?
The students are restive. They have been shouting slogans of “Azadi”, Bholenath is told. Up until last night, freedom was cool, Bholenath says. When did it become uncool?
What do you want freedom from, Bholenath asks the cheering students. They quote the words of activist Kanhaiya Kumar – “Azadi” from “Manuvaad, jaativaad and atyaachar”.
What you actually want isn’t freedom from your country, but freedom while being citizens of your country, Bholenath observes. Even as he launches into a speech on why free thought should be encouraged on campuses,...
