Not many know that Nehru was a cinephile who encouraged Indian cinema, especially films that carried a positive message. Post-Independence, many viewed films as an uncultured and boorish form of entertainment. However, Nehru saw potential in this medium and encouraged films as a tool for communication. He saw an opportunity for the country to shape its identity through films.
He set up the Film Enquiry Committee (FEC) in 1949, which led to the development of the Film Industry in India. Nehru also used this emerging medium to advantage in the field of diplomatic relations. He included film stars such as Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor and Nargis as part of cultural delegations to Russia and Egypt, where the popularity of Indian cinema soared.
Nehru himself was portrayed in a number of short films and documentaries. Nehru’s character has been played multiple times by Roshan Seth – in Richard Attenborough’s 1982 film Gandhi, in Shyam Benegal’s 1988 television series Bharat Ek Khoj (which was based on Nehru’s book, The Discovery of India) and in a 2007 TV film titled The Last Days of the Raj. Benegal also directed the 1984 documentary film Nehru, which covered his political career and used real footage of Nehru instead of a depiction by an actor.
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