Birds, boats, and bottles: Poll symbols in Bollywood
The choice of election symbols in Hindi films has been arbitrary, allegorical, and even absurd. In a scene in Gulzar’s 'Mere Apne' (1971), a group of unemployed youth are tasked with canvassing for a local politician in an upcoming election. He assures amazing guarantees to these young men hoping they’d galvanise sufficient support for him. “Mera pinjre ka panchchi jeet jaaye,” he tells them referring to his poll symbol — a caged bird. An apt symbol, the group’s leader jokes, hinting at the lofty promises political candidates make to entice the public. The politician laughs and in fake modesty calls his life in politics a bondage he’s unable to escape — “Ek pinjre ke panchhi.” This is one of the few instances in Hindi cinema where a filmmaker refers to an election symbol. In our films, election symbols have typically appeared as background props, even in the ones with political themes and characters. They’re used arbitrarily with no connection or impact on the story. Flora, ...
