Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faculty Publications Article Faculty Publications -Articles Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Kumar, Sarath S.; Kadiyakkol, Sreejith; Remya, R. Title A name given to the resource Imagined Communities in Bollywood: A Contrapuntal Reading of The Kashmir Files and Mulk Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01-01-2025 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Asiatic;Volume;19;Issue;2;pp.176-192 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context <a href="https://doi.org/10.31436/asiatic.v19i2.3954" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://doi.org/10.31436/asiatic.v19i2.3954</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105026176377?origin=resultslist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105026176377?origin=resultslist</a> Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Kumar S.S., Department of English and Cultural Studies, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; Kadiyakkol S., Department of English and Cultural Studies, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; Remya R., Department of English and Cultural Studies, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India Description An account of the resource Under the Modi regime, Hindu nationalist ideologies have gained prominence, resulting in a growing utilisation of cinema as a political tool in India. This article explores Bollywoods role as a mass cultural medium in shaping communal identities through a contrapuntal analysis of two ideologically opposed films: Mulk (2018) and The Kashmir Files (2022). Utilising Benedict Andersons concept of imagined communities and Edward Saids contrapuntal reading technique, the research examines the role of these films in shaping narratives of majoritarian Hindus and minority Muslims. The Kashmir Files promotes a one-dimensional communal narrative that portrays Muslims as the aggressors and Hindus as the victims, thus bolstering Hindutva ideologies. Conversely, Mulk challenges this narrative by depicting the Muslim community as unjustly demonised and seeking justice in a pluralistic context. This article outlines Bollywoods involvement in the broader political discourse surrounding religious identity in India through a comparative analysis of themes like terrorism, visual stereotyping, and the representation of jihad. The findings are intended to contribute to the critical discussion surrounding nationalism, media representation, and communal politics in present-day South Asia. 2025, International Islamic University Malaysia. All rights reserved. Subject The topic of the resource Bollywood cinema; contrapuntal reading; Hindutva nationalism; imagined communities; Muslim representation in Indian cinema Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available International Islamic University Malaysia Relation A related resource ISSN: 19853106; Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Article Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource online