{"AuthorName":"Shaista Anwar","Description":"

This image gallery considers how Indian cinema has promoted the motorcycle as a vehicle of masculinity. If in period films set in the historic past, warrior men are frequently associated with horses, modern masculinity has replaced the animal with the motorcycle. A 1935-advertisement for one of the most famous brands, Harley-Davidson, even visually captures the transition from ‘the hard riders’ of the Pony Express to the ‘tireless mount’ that is the motorcycle (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 01. Riding the Pony Express<\/em>, a 1935 Harley-Davidson advertisement, from Popular Mechanics<\/em>. Sourced from pinterest.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 01<\/a>).1<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Other Harley-Davidson ads suggested to male riders that ‘motorcycling’ would allow them to ‘swoop like an eagle’ (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 02. Swoop like an Eagle!<\/em>, Harley-Davidson advertisement, c. 1930, from Popular Mechanics<\/em>. Sourced from pinterest.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 02<\/a>). The motorcycle is not just a metaphor of the 20th<\/sup> century, but a metaphor for 20th<\/sup>-century masculinity.2<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 01. Riding the Pony Express<\/em>, a 1935 Harley-Davidson advertisement, from Popular Mechanics<\/em>. Sourced from pinterest.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 01<\/a><\/span>    Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 02. Swoop like an Eagle!<\/em>, Harley-Davidson advertisement, c. 1930, from Popular Mechanics<\/em>. Sourced from pinterest.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 02<\/a><\/span>    Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 03. Triumph, Fighting with the Forces!<\/em>, a poster of Triumph Engineering Co. Ltd., England, printed during World War I. Sourced from pinterest.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 03<\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 04. The Wild One<\/em>, a movie poster featuring Marlon Brando on Triumph’s 6T Thunderbird, 1953. Sourced from pinterest.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 04<\/a><\/span>
\r\nThe evolution of a mechanized bicycle went through several stages in Europe and the United States in the 19th century. The earliest two-wheeled <\/font>vehicle called a ‘motorcycle’ was introduced in the 1890s, although early models were far from looking ‘masculine’: they were simply bicycles with a bulky engine and a fuel tank attached. During World War I, motorcycles manufactured by American companies such as Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle, BMW in Germany and others came to increasingly replace horses, and also to explicitly associate the vehicle with men—and with patriotic men at that, a trend that was only further consolidated in World War II (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 03. Triumph, Fighting with the Forces!<\/em>, a poster of Triumph Engineering Co. Ltd., England, printed during World War I. Sourced from pinterest.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 03<\/a>). In the post-war decade in the United States, as war veterans returned home, a motorcycle mania set in, also adding a new masculine theme to Hollywood and America’s popular culture (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 04. The Wild One<\/em>, a movie poster featuring Marlon Brando on Triumph’s 6T Thunderbird, 1953. Sourced from pinterest.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 04<\/a>): <\/font><\/p>\r\n\r\n

'Their wartime world fostered a camaraderie among motorcycle platoons that would form the root of motorcycle gangs like Marlon Brando’s in the film The Wild One<\/em> (1954). The juiced-up Army bike with the everyman-sounding moniker “Bob-Job” became the vehicle for their flight. Combat veterans roamed America’s roads in cohesive groups; the forerunners of the maligned American motorcycle gang, these vets did Easy Rider long before Hollywood did.'3<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/font><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 05. Easy Rider<\/em>, a movie poster featuring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson, riding Harley-Davidson bikes, 1969. Sourced from pinterest.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 05<\/a><\/span>World War II veterans and immigrants to the U.S. also started motorcycle clubs like ‘Hell’s Angels,’ which was outlawed in many states on being charged with criminal activities.4<\/sup><\/a><\/span> The cult of rebel bikers continued in American cinema <\/font>into the 1960s and later with movies like <\/font>The Wild Angels<\/em> (1966) and <\/font>Easy Rider<\/em> (1969) starring Peter Fonda who has long been associated with Harley-Davidson motorcycles and American counterculture of the 1960s (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 05. Easy Rider<\/em>, a movie poster featuring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson, riding Harley-Davidson bikes, 1969. Sourced from pinterest.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 05<\/a>).5<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Correspondingly, ads for motorcycles, often featuring celebrity men, also highlighted the masculine looks and actions of bikers.
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\r\nThe motorcycle arrived in India late, almost towards the end of the colonial era. The first official motorcycle, a 350 cc Bullet, manufactured in <\/font>Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 06. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 launch in Madras, 1955. Sourced from https:\/\/abrokebiker.wordpress.com\/2018\/01\/16\/a-short-history-of-the-royal-enfield\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 06<\/a><\/span>England and assembled in Madras (now Chennai), was commissioned by the Indian government for the army in 1955 (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 06. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 launch in Madras, 1955. Sourced from https:\/\/abrokebiker.wordpress.com\/2018\/01\/16\/a-short-history-of-the-royal-enfield\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 06<\/a>).6<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Due to restrictions imposed in India on imported bikes, Indian manufacturers (or foreign companies based in India) started producing local motorcycles. Alongside these, we see a growth in advertisements for these new vehicles, which reinforced gender stereotypes. From the beginning, motorcycles were showcased as machines for men. Thus, an ad for Jawa motocycles, introduced in India in 1960 and later also named Yezdi, presented the bike as ‘man’s best friend.’ Like the young woman wearing a short skirt and high heels, the bike has a ‘sleek well-built body.’ Like the woman, the bike is ‘always around when he wants...’ and serves ‘him day after day and don’t expect much in return.’ (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 07. Man’s Best Friend<\/em>, Ideal Jawa motorcycle advertisement, 1960. Sourced from https:\/\/theprint.in\/features\/brandma\/mans-best-friend-cult-czech-classic-bike-jawa-is-back-because-the-brand-never-died\/314519\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 07<\/a>).<\/font><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 07. Man’s Best Friend<\/em>, Ideal Jawa motorcycle advertisement, 1960. Sourced from https:\/\/theprint.in\/features\/brandma\/mans-best-friend-cult-czech-classic-bike-jawa-is-back-because-the-brand-never-died\/314519\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 07<\/a><\/span>    Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 08. Give me a bike. Give me a highway. Give me my girl...<\/em>, Charminar cigarettes advertisement, featuring the Rajdoot motorcycle (the Illustrated Weekly of India<\/em>, c. 1980).<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 08<\/a><\/span>    Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 09. Why are young executives moving up to Rajdoot?<\/em> Rajdoot Motorcycles advertisement, Escorts Limited, c.1970. Sourced from http:\/\/oldindianads.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 09<\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

The association of bikes with masculine identity is grounded in the imagination of consumption itself presented in gendered terms. Thus, an ad from the 1970s for Charminar cigarettes, meant for men, also associates smoking with the motorcycle: ‘Give me a bike, give me a highway, give me my girl…and give me the taste of toasted tobacco’ (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 08. Give me a bike. Give me a highway. Give me my girl...<\/em>, Charminar cigarettes advertisement, featuring the Rajdoot motorcycle (the Illustrated Weekly of India<\/em>, c. 1980).<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 08<\/a>). Besides targeting macho men, motorcycles like Rajdoot were also sold to tie-wearing ‘executives,’ who are featured in ads with their spouse (or girl friend) as pillion rider (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 09. Why are young executives moving up to Rajdoot?<\/em> Rajdoot Motorcycles advertisement, Escorts Limited, c.1970. Sourced from http:\/\/oldindianads.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 09<\/a>), something that one may probably find only in India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 10. Gunahgaar<\/em>, film poster featuring Parveen Babi and Rishi Kapoor, 1980, dir. Rahul Rawail. From the Priya Paul Collection, New Delhi.<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 10<\/a><\/span>As in the West, in India as well popular cinema and the romance of motorcycles have co-existed. In the 1963 Bengali film<\/font> Saptapadi <\/font><\/em>(<\/font>Seven Steps<\/span><\/font><\/em>), a tie-wearing Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen are seen riding a bike through the rural landscape, singing a happy and carefree song.7<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Similarly, the 1971 Hindi film <\/font>Andaz<\/em><\/font> included a hit song, ‘Zindagi ek safar hai suhana,’ featuring Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini taking a carefree bike ride. <\/font>Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 11. Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in a still from the film, Bobby<\/em>, 1973, dir. Raj Kapoor. Sourced from http:\/\/visionsofcinema.blogspot.com\/2012\/11\/the-uninhibited-passions-of-bobby.html<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 11<\/a><\/span>The 1974 film <\/font>Sholay<\/em><\/font>’s hit song ‘yeh dosti,’ celebrating the friendship of Jai and Veeru, featured the two men merrily riding a bike with a sidecar, something that has also been used in some Hollywood classics. <\/font>If, however, a fun-loving woman wanted to ride a bike with her man behind her on the pillion seat, he looks rather worried, as seen in a still from <\/font>Gunahgaar<\/em><\/font> (1980) (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 10. Gunahgaar<\/em>, film poster featuring Parveen Babi and Rishi Kapoor, 1980, dir. Rahul Rawail. From the Priya Paul Collection, New Delhi.<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 10<\/a>)! Motorbikes have been used in action movies to not only stage daring stunts and speed chases, but also to sell certain brands. Enfield Motors’ Rajdoot motorbike was launched in Raj Kapoor’s 1973 movie <\/font>Bobby<\/em><\/font>, starring Rishi Kapoor as Raj and Dimple Kapadia as Bobby Braganza, two star-crossed lovers. One scenario has Raj saving Bobby from<\/font> trouble, riding in on his Rajdoot GTS (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 11. Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in a still from the film, Bobby<\/em>, 1973, dir. Raj Kapoor. Sourced from http:\/\/visionsofcinema.blogspot.com\/2012\/11\/the-uninhibited-passions-of-bobby.html<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 11<\/a>), <\/font>Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 12. Bobby motorcycle Rajdoot GTS 175<\/em>, a newspaper advertisement in Marathi, c. 1970. Sourced from https:\/\/in.pinterest.com\/pin\/140526450846678032\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 12<\/a><\/span>which, since the release of the film, came to known as ‘the Bobby bike’ (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 12. Bobby motorcycle Rajdoot GTS 175<\/em>, a newspaper advertisement in Marathi, c. 1970. Sourced from https:\/\/in.pinterest.com\/pin\/140526450846678032\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 12<\/a>). Similarly, in 1983, <\/font>Hero<\/em><\/font>, Bombay cinema’s first bike gang-and-racing movie with Jackie Shroff, helped launch the Rajdoot 350 motorcycle.<\/font>
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\r\nUntil the 1990s, while the humble scooter remained a more affordable mode of transport for middle-class Indian families (with slogans like ‘Hamara Bajaj,’ ‘our Bajaj’), motorcycles were seen as a more expensive thrill machine for men and not really meant as a utility vehicle. After liberalization of the Indian economy in the 1990s, Kawasaki Bajaj, Royal Enfield, and later, Harley Davidson, Ducati, Hayabusa and Cruiser entered the market and soon became popular. Variants or models of many motorcycles in India as well as the world are even named to sound like mean masculine machines: Hunk, Dash, Extreme, Xblade, Fazer, Alpha, Desert Storm Cruiser, Thunderbird, Bullet, Apache, Victor, Dominar, Avenger Cruise, Triumph, Adventure, Intruder, V-Strom, Ninja, Vulcan, Revolt, Scrambler, Roadster, Fat Bob, Road King, Speedmaster, Tiger, Monster, Hypermotard, and so on.<\/font><\/p>\r\n\r\n

On the other hand, scooties, or less powerful bikes marketed especially for girls and women, are not only designed in ‘feminine’ styles and colours but also named that way: Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 13. Partilicious go babelicious<\/em>, a TVS Scooty Pep+ advertisement. Sourced from https:\/\/contralens.wordpress.com\/2013\/02\/11\/brands-ive-been-with\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 13<\/a><\/span>Scooty, Activa, Streak, Pleasure, Access, Wego, Pep+, and Aviator. They are of course coloured pink, red, purple and white. Ads for Scooty Pep+, for instance, show a brightly coloured vehicle characterized as ‘shopalicious,’ ‘babelicious,’ ‘partylicious,’ and ‘chatalicious’ (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 13. Partilicious go babelicious<\/em>, a TVS Scooty Pep+ advertisement. Sourced from https:\/\/contralens.wordpress.com\/2013\/02\/11\/brands-ive-been-with\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 13<\/a>). A standard dictionary defines ‘babelicious’ as ‘extremely sexually attractive’: this in itself says a lot when such terms are extended to the vehicle.8<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Some ads do ask, ‘Why should boys have all the fun,’ but then leave the girls riding to partying, shopping, and celebrating on such bikes rather than on the rough and tough masculine thrill-seeking Harley-Davidson, for instance (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 14. Why should boys have all the fun?<\/em> A Hero Scooty Pleasure advertisement.
\r\nSourced from https:\/\/bikes4sale.in<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 14<\/a>). These ‘girly’ bikes are invoked even on festive occasions like Rakhi9<\/sup><\/a><\/span> (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 15. Celebrate this Rakhi in style<\/em>, Hero Scooty Pleasure+ advertisement. Sourced from https:\/\/www.likefluence.com\/en_US\/heromotocorp<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 15<\/a>) or on Valentine’s Day cards as shown in an essay by Christiane Brosius<\/a>.10<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Most scooties meant for women are easy to mount, lightweight and automatic, unlike bikes meant for men that require heavy kick start, revving and maintenance.<\/font><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 14. Why should boys have all the fun?<\/em> A Hero Scooty Pleasure advertisement.
\r\nSourced from https:\/\/bikes4sale.in<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 14<\/a><\/span>    Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 15. Celebrate this Rakhi in style<\/em>, Hero Scooty Pleasure+ advertisement. Sourced from https:\/\/www.likefluence.com\/en_US\/heromotocorp<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 15<\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

It seems that Indian male bike riders are highly attracted to Royal Enfield motorcycles whose different models such as Bullet, Classic and Thunderbird are all well known for the trademark loud ‘thumping’ sound they produce, especially with modified exhaust pipes. This thumping, produced with the insistent revving of the engine, may be thrilling to the rider, but also has generated complaints amongst the general public.11<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Single riders, or a band of bikers, often go on thrill tours or highway races with such noisy engines, appearing akin to marching marauders. Some bikers also manipulate the spark plug to produce loud blasting sounds called ‘patakhas’ to increase the thrill factor, although this is a traffic violation and cause of nuisance.12<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 16. Actor Salman Khan riding a Triumph Bonneville in maut ka kuan<\/em> (Well of Death), a still from Bharat<\/em>, 2019, dir. Ali Abbas Zafar. Sourced from https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/entertainment\/hindi\/bollywood\/news\/watch-how-the-director-and-stuntmen-made-the-impossible-maut-ka-kuan-possible-in-bharat\/articleshow\/69700907.cms<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 16<\/a><\/span>Interestingly, despite such hypermasculine acts, most male bikers or users refer to their vehicles in female terms (the Hindi word gaadi<\/em>, for vehicle, is feminine).13<\/sup><\/a><\/span>
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\r\nOne favourite game of showmanship for the general populace in rural as well as urban India is the maut ka kuan<\/em> (the Well of Death), a silodrome or large semi-spherical structure inside which men ride bikes or even a small car at great speeds, as part of local circuses or fetes. The silodrome has been used in movies as well, including in the recent Bharat <\/em>(2019), starring Salman Khan (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 16. Actor Salman Khan riding a Triumph Bonneville in maut ka kuan<\/em> (Well of Death), a still from Bharat<\/em>, 2019, dir. Ali Abbas Zafar. Sourced from https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/entertainment\/hindi\/bollywood\/news\/watch-how-the-director-and-stuntmen-made-the-impossible-maut-ka-kuan-possible-in-bharat\/articleshow\/69700907.cms<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 16<\/a>). Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 17. Two stills showing Ajay Devgn's double-bike stunt in his debut film Phool aur Kante<\/em>, 1991, dir. Kuku Kohli. Sourced from https:\/\/thequint.com\/entertainment\/phool-aur-kaante-ajay-devgn-25-years-economic-reforms-1991-lamhe-madhoo-amrish-puri-bollywood<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 17<\/a><\/span>Chase and racing scenes in several Indian movies such as Janasheen <\/em>(2003), Musafir <\/em>(2004), Magadheera <\/em>(2009, Telugu), and Kites <\/em>(2010), use daring and often seemingly impossible bike stunts depicting the hypermasculinity of the actors.14<\/sup><\/a><\/span> In Phool aur Kante<\/em> (1991), for instance, Ajay Devgun bizarrely balances himself as he stands astride two racing motorcycles (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 17. Two stills showing Ajay Devgn's double-bike stunt in his debut film Phool aur Kante<\/em>, 1991, dir. Kuku Kohli. Sourced from https:\/\/thequint.com\/entertainment\/phool-aur-kaante-ajay-devgn-25-years-economic-reforms-1991-lamhe-madhoo-amrish-puri-bollywood<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 17<\/a>)! Ajay repeated the same stunt in Golmaal <\/em>in 2006. India’s cine-goers are attracted to certain movies that display such manly stunts, if the box office returns are to be believed.15<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Many actors such as Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Shahrukh Khan, Hritik Roshan, and Saif Ali Khan have not only appeared as hypermasculine bike riders in movies, but are also passionate about motorcycles and cars in their off-stage lives.16<\/sup><\/a><\/span>
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\r\nMotorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 18. John Abraham with Suzuki GSX-1300R Hayabusa in a poster of Dhoom<\/em>, 2004, dir. Sanjay Gadvi. Sourced from https:\/\/filmfare.com\/features\/john-abraham-movies-that-are-a-must-watch-38008.html<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 18<\/a><\/span>Filmed around a story involving motorbike gangs and their criminal activities in Mumbai, Dhoom <\/em>(2004) acquired cult status, its racy theme song even becoming bike horn music (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 18. John Abraham with Suzuki GSX-1300R Hayabusa in a poster of Dhoom<\/em>, 2004, dir. Sanjay Gadvi. Sourced from https:\/\/filmfare.com\/features\/john-abraham-movies-that-are-a-must-watch-38008.html<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 18<\/a>).17<\/sup><\/a><\/span> The bike’s gang leader, played by John Abraham, also shot to fame as a hypermasculine and meterosexual figure who performed daring acts on his machine. With his muscled body, Abraham, who hailed from the modeling world, became a youth icon with this film. Not just the action scenes, but even the dialogues of Dhoom <\/em>stressed speed. Some of these have become Internet memes: 'Swiftness is not in the bullet but in the guy firing it' (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 19. Speed is not in the bullet… it is in the shooter<\/em>, a much-quoted line of John Abraham from Dhoom<\/em>, 2004, turned into an internet meme. Sourced from https:\/\/bumppy.com\/10-john-abraham-dialogues-that-could-thoroughly-bend-over-as-adages\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 19<\/a>). Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 19. Speed is not in the bullet… it is in the shooter<\/em>, a much-quoted line of John Abraham from Dhoom<\/em>, 2004, turned into an internet meme. Sourced from https:\/\/bumppy.com\/10-john-abraham-dialogues-that-could-thoroughly-bend-over-as-adages\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 19<\/a><\/span>D<\/em>hoom <\/em>was followed by its sequel Dhoom 2: Back in Action<\/em> (2006), and Dhoom 3<\/em>, released in 2013. ‘The video game like effects of this trilogy have focused people’s attention in such a way as not to allow them to be negatively influenced toward modern day motorcyclists.’18<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Abraham appeared subsequently in other movies but with his violent motorcycle masculine image now recast as hero, even picking up a bike with his bare hands and hurling it at the villain in a fight scene from Force <\/em>(2011) (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 20. Two stills showing John Abraham pick up a motorcycle during a fight scene from Force<\/em>, 2011. Sourced from https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/photos\/entertainment-gallery\/force-2-john-abraham-sonakshi-sinha-pictures-3056058\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 20<\/a>).19<\/sup><\/a><\/span> The hypermasculine biker is now a force for the good, as emphasized in the poster for Force<\/em>, where a muscled Abraham, a police officer who takes on drug lords, is placed within an outline of the map of India (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 21. John Abraham in a poster for Force<\/em>, 2011, dir. Nishikant Kamath. Sourced from https:\/\/www.bollywoodlife.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 21<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

   Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 20. Two stills showing John Abraham pick up a motorcycle during a fight scene from Force<\/em>, 2011. Sourced from https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/photos\/entertainment-gallery\/force-2-john-abraham-sonakshi-sinha-pictures-3056058\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 20<\/a><\/span>    Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 21. John Abraham in a poster for Force<\/em>, 2011, dir. Nishikant Kamath. Sourced from https:\/\/www.bollywoodlife.com<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 21<\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 22. Salman Khan in a still from Dabangg<\/em>, 2010, dir. Abhinav Kashyap. Sourced from https:\/\/businesstoday.in\/trending\/box-office\/dabangg-3-box-office-collection-salman-khan-film-enters-the-coveted-rs-200-crore-club\/story\/393222.html<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 22<\/a><\/span>Actor Salman Khan has been characterized as embodying ‘toxic masculinity’20<\/sup><\/a><\/span> with his daring movie roles in recent films such Dabangg<\/em> (2010), Bodyguard<\/em> (2011), and Ek Tha Tiger<\/em> (2012) (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 22. Salman Khan in a still from Dabangg<\/em>, 2010, dir. Abhinav Kashyap. Sourced from https:\/\/businesstoday.in\/trending\/box-office\/dabangg-3-box-office-collection-salman-khan-film-enters-the-coveted-rs-200-crore-club\/story\/393222.html<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 22<\/a>). Even in earlier films, he came to be renowned for riding a bike, frequently with his best chest on full display. In 2010, he become a brand ambassador for Suzuki Motorcycles India (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 23. Actor Salman Khan campaigning for Suzuki Hayate motorcycle as part of the promotion of the film Dabangg<\/em>, 2010. Sourced from https:\/\/pinkvilla.com\/entertainment\/video\/suzuki-hayate-tvc-feat-salman-khan<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 23<\/a>). The release of his movies was generally tied<\/font> to the launch a new series of bikes. Motorcycle promotion and movies often combine in such a way that the advertisement of a new bike, <\/font>like Honda DreamNeo, looks like a movie poster (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 24. Introducing Ganeshan in & on DreamNeo<\/em>, a bike ad designed like a movie release ad featuring a south Indian ‘superstar’. Sourced from https:\/\/campaignindia.in\/video\/honda-dream-neo-fuels-a-superstar-dream-to-woo-the-masses\/419230<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 24<\/a>), urging semi-urban and rural riders to conquer their daily grind with superstar-like confidence.<\/font>
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Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 23. Actor Salman Khan campaigning for Suzuki Hayate motorcycle as part of the promotion of the film Dabangg<\/em>, 2010. Sourced from https:\/\/pinkvilla.com\/entertainment\/video\/suzuki-hayate-tvc-feat-salman-khan<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 23<\/a><\/span>    Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 24. Introducing Ganeshan in & on DreamNeo<\/em>, a bike ad designed like a movie release ad featuring a south Indian ‘superstar’. Sourced from https:\/\/campaignindia.in\/video\/honda-dream-neo-fuels-a-superstar-dream-to-woo-the-masses\/419230<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 24<\/a><\/span>    Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 25. Now You’ve Got the Power<\/em>, actor Amir Khan featured in a Hero Puch advertisement, 1999. Sourced from https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/254312710191664601\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 25<\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Aamir Khan, who had a soft, romantic hero image in his early years, was chosen to be the brand ambassador for a smaller, 65 cc Hero Puch, which he rode on Delhi roads in the 1999 movie Sarfarosh<\/em>, certainly not an aggressively masculine motorcycle (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 25. Now You’ve Got the Power<\/em>, actor Amir Khan featured in a Hero Puch advertisement, 1999. Sourced from https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/254312710191664601\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 25<\/a>). Very often, even when the motorcycle is not a major part of the theme or plot of a movie, a hypermasculine bike-riding action image of the hero itself becomes the selling point for the movie’s poster, such as in Bullett Raja<\/em> (2013), Yennai Arindhaal<\/em> (Tamil, 2014), or Saaho<\/em> (Tamil, Telugu, Hindi 2019) among others (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 26. Bullett Raja<\/em>, movie poster featuring actor Saif Ali Khan, 2013, dir. Tigmanshu Dhulia. http:\/\/impawards.com\/intl\/india\/2013\/bullet_raja.html<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 26<\/a>, Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 27. Yennai Arindhaal<\/em>, a Tamil movie poster featuring Ajithkumar Subramaniam, 2015, dir. Gautham Menon. Sourced from https:\/\/filmibeat.com\/wallpapers\/tamil-movies\/yennai-arindhaal-41886.html<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 27<\/a>, Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 28. Saaho<\/em>, a movie poster featuring Prabhas Raju on a Triumph Street Triple 765 bike, 2019, dir. Sujeeth Reddy. Sourced from https:\/\/photos.tfpc.in\/prabhas-saaho-movie-latest-hd-posters\/5673\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 28<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 26. Bullett Raja<\/em>, movie poster featuring actor Saif Ali Khan, 2013, dir. Tigmanshu Dhulia. http:\/\/impawards.com\/intl\/india\/2013\/bullet_raja.html<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 26<\/a><\/span>    Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 27. Yennai Arindhaal<\/em>, a Tamil movie poster featuring Ajithkumar Subramaniam, 2015, dir. Gautham Menon. Sourced from https:\/\/filmibeat.com\/wallpapers\/tamil-movies\/yennai-arindhaal-41886.html<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 27<\/a><\/span>    Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 28. Saaho<\/em>, a movie poster featuring Prabhas Raju on a Triumph Street Triple 765 bike, 2019, dir. Sujeeth Reddy. Sourced from https:\/\/photos.tfpc.in\/prabhas-saaho-movie-latest-hd-posters\/5673\/<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 28<\/a><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

The motorcycle has served not only as a vehicle for some Indian men to demonstrate and project their masculine self, but has also in recent years been used ideologically to perform political power and communal violence. Young men associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies have taken out motorcycle rallies in many Indian towns not only for election campaigns but also to spread simultaneously the message of Hindu unity alongside anti-Muslim sentiments (Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 29. A bike rally in West Bengal carried out by the members of Bharatiya Janata Party, 2018. Sourced from https:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/874101\/motorcycle-rallies-how-the-bjp-has-appropriated-indias-bike-culture-and-saffronised-it<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 29<\/a>).21<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Motorcycle Masculinity in Indian Cinema<\/h4>Shaista Anwar<\/span>

Fig. 29. A bike rally in West Bengal carried out by the members of Bharatiya Janata Party, 2018. Sourced from https:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/874101\/motorcycle-rallies-how-the-bjp-has-appropriated-indias-bike-culture-and-saffronised-it<\/p><\/h2>\">Fig. 29<\/a><\/span>In 2018 and 2019, such politicized bike rallies led to clashes and violence in West Bengal between members of BJP and Trinamool, and threatened the peace elsewhere.22<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Around every election, BJP workers take out massive motorcycle rallies which are variously called ‘Vijay Sankalp’ (Oath of Victory), or ‘Martyrs Day.’23<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Bike rallies have also been held to counter Left-oriented protests in institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.24<\/sup><\/a><\/span> In fact, to assert their dominance in the 2019 election campaign, the BJP took out a motorcycle rally to counter a simple ‘cycle yatra’ of its opponent, the Samajwadi Party, whose election symbol is a bicycle!25<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Thus, the motorcycle continues to remain a vehicle with which to assert power, hierarchy, and masculinity in India, aided and abetted by popular media influencing the imagination of men.<\/p>\r\n\r\n


\r\nNotes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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1<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Leslie Wylie, 'Riding Horses vs. Riding Motorcycles', Horse Nation<\/em>, https:\/\/horsenation.com\/2014\/05\/08\/riding-horses-vs-riding-motorcycles\/<\/a><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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2<\/a><\/span><\/sup> <\/sup>'Freedom and Postwar Mobility', http:\/\/pastexhibitions.guggenheim.org\/motorcycle\/motorcycle\/1946-1958.html<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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3<\/a> <\/span><\/sup>Ibid.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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4<\/a><\/sup><\/span> Thompson, Hunter S. Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs<\/em>, Random House, 1967.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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5<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Sandra Martinez, Antonio Sanjuán, Bikes and Movies: A Brief History of Motorcycle in Cinema<\/em>, CINEJ Cinema Journal, Vol. 3.2, 2014. https:\/\/cinej.pitt.edu\/ojs\/index.php\/cinej\/article\/view\/94\/275<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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6<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Santosh Venkatesh, History of Bikes in India<\/em>, https:\/\/blog.drivojoy.com\/history-of-bikes-in-india-99d50f060bd<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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7<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Gupta, Monobina, ‘Rough Edges: The Motorbike, Bengal and Beyond’, The Wire<\/em>, 19 Jan. 2018, https:\/\/thewire.in\/politics\/rough-edges-motorbike-bengal-beyond<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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8<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Dalzell, Tom. Terry Victor, The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English<\/em>, London and New York: Routledge, 1937, p. 68.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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9<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Or Raksha bandhan, a Hindu festival where a brother vows to protect his sister as she ties a colourful rakhi or band on his wrist.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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10<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Brosius, Christiane, ‘The Looks and Sites of Love, Valentine’s Day Greeting Cards in India,’ Tasveer Ghar<\/em>, http:\/\/tasveergharindia.net\/essay\/looks-sites-love.html#lg=1&slide=14<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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11<\/a><\/span><\/sup> For instance, see this public petition: 'Motorcycles without silencer must be stopped: Campaign against traffic noise in India', Change.org<\/em>, https:\/\/change.org\/p\/ministry-of-road-transport-highways-motorcycles-without-silencer-must-be-stopped-campaign-against-traffic-noise-in-india<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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12<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Yadav, Sanjay, 'Gurugram: Bullet riders arrested over 'patakha' sounds', The Times of India<\/em>, April 22, 2018, http:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/articleshow\/63863614.cms<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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13<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Hinchliffe, Mark, 'Is your motorcycle male or female?' Motorbike Writer<\/em>, 13th November, 2017, https:\/\/motorbikewriter.com\/motorcycle-male-female\/<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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14<\/a><\/span><\/sup> See video: https:\/\/youtube.com\/watch?v=knfvEzyn20Y<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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15<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Motorcycle Diaries: Bollywood's Best Biking Moments, News18<\/em>, https:\/\/news18.com\/photogallery\/movies\/motorcycle-diaries-bollywoods-best-biking-moments-756061-2.html<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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16<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Sarkar, John, ‘Bollywood's love affair with two-wheelers’, Economic Times<\/em>, Feb 19, 2008, https:\/\/economictimes.indiatimes.com\/business-of-bollywood\/bollywoods-love-affair-with-two-wheelers\/articleshow\/2795878.cms<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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17<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Shukla, Ira, '15 Years On, Dhoom's Iconic Theme Song Still Sets Our Hearts Racing', ScoopWhoop<\/em>, https:\/\/scoopwhoop.com\/entertainment\/15-years-on-dhoom-s-iconic-theme-song-still-sets-our-hearts-racing\/<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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18<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Cianferoni, Marina, The Motorcycle and the Cinema, An Unexpected Love Affair<\/em>, https:\/\/academia.edu\/15360363\/THE_MOTORCYCLE_AND_THE_CINEMA_An_Unexpected_Love_Affair<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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19<\/a><\/span><\/sup> See the bike throwing scene in Force<\/em> (https:\/\/youtube.com\/watch?v=LlZ7OItdY-4<\/a>)<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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20<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Dwyer, Rachel, ‘Being Salman Khan’, Open<\/em> magazine, 12 April 2018, https:\/\/openthemagazine.com\/essay\/being-salman-khan\/<\/a>; Jha, Nishita, ‘The Toxic Masculinity of Salman Khan’, The Wire<\/em>, https:\/\/thewire.in\/culture\/the-toxic-masculinity-of-salman-khan<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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21<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Ashraf, Ajaz, 'Motorcycle rallies: How the BJP has appropriated India’s bike culture and saffronised it', Scroll<\/em>, https:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/874101\/motorcycle-rallies-how-the-bjp-has-appropriated-indias-bike-culture-and-saffronised-it<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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22<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Gupta, 'Rough Edges', 2018.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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23<\/a><\/span><\/sup> Chatterjee, Debjani, 'Top BJP Leaders Launch 3,500 Bike Rallies Across India Ahead Of Polls', NDTV<\/em>, https:\/\/ndtv.com\/india-news\/bjp-president-amit-shah-launches-nationwide-mega-vijay-sankalp-bike-rally-2001683<\/a><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n