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Hindi is gaining immense popularity worldwide. Foreign actors often greet Indian fans with “Namaste.” Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, known for his mastery of Hindi, frequently tweets in Hindi. Recently, many stars shared their thoughts on the importance of the Hindi language.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Hindi Diwas 2024 will be celebrated on Saturday.
- Several Bollywood stars speak fluent Hindi.
- Amitabh Bachchan holds a special record in Hindi cinema.
In Deadpool, the iconic song “Mera Joota Hai Japani” from Shree 420 is featured, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind uses the Bollywood track “Wada Na Tod” from The Gambler. Nicole Kidman’s Moulin Rouge also featured “Chamma Chamma” from China Gate. The global influence of Hindi is undeniable, and cinema has played a crucial role in its promotion.
“My Language Does Not Discriminate”
Amitabh Bachchan eloquently describes his love for Hindi: “My language doesn’t differentiate between high and low. There are no capital or small letters, and the complete letters always support the half-letters.” Often, he quotes poetry from his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and shares gems from authors like Premchand.
Mastery of Language Leads to Excellence
Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, known for The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files, emphasizes the importance of strong language skills. “The better your command over a language, the better your performance. I write poems in Hindi and speak pure Hindi. In my films, I use the everyday language spoken in India. However, I sometimes have to explain Hindi dialogues in English to actors.”
Agnihotri recalls having to explain the dialogue “Badi Vidhambana Hai” (It’s a great irony) in English to an actor, highlighting challenges in the education system.
Amitabh Wrote His Own Monologue in Hindi
Actors with a good command of Hindi can easily spot mistakes. Amitabh Bachchan, dissatisfied with a monologue in the film Chehre, ended up writing it himself. Producer Anand Pandit explains, “Mr. Bachchan was given a 12-minute monologue, but he wasn’t satisfied with it. He halted the shoot, went to his vanity van, and wrote the entire monologue himself. That’s a record in itself!”
Language Sharpens Acting Skills
Actor Manoj Joshi, known for his work in Chanakya, believes that Hindi is essential for actors to refine their talent. “Language brings out the best in one’s talent. Chanakya features many Sanskrit words, which I explain in simple Hindi to my cast. Some actors feel Hindi has become complicated, but those words are often everyday terms. Language is the soul of any performance.”
Teaching Hindi on the Set of Lagaan
Actor Akhilendra Mishra, who played Arjan in Lagaan, recalls teaching Hindi to British actors on set. “We spent around two and a half months with the British actors, and they learned words like ‘Dhanyavaad’ (Thank you) and ‘Main Accha Hoon’ (I am good). They were eager to learn Hindi, and by the end, they would greet us with phrases like ‘Aap kaise hain?’ (How are you?).”
Mishra adds, “Hindi has become a global language. Step out of any international airport, and you will easily find at least ten people who understand and speak Hindi.”
