How India’s Ladakh was destroyed by Bollywood’s ‘three idiots’
(Credit: Reliance Entertainment)
2009 hindi youth comedy drama three idiotsThe film, written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, became one of India’s most commercially successful films. This film was the highest-grossing Indian film of all time until 2013, and was highly acclaimed in the world film scene.
three idiotsStarring Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi, it is told through two parallel stories, one in the present day and one ten years ago. The film focuses on her group of three friends studying together at an Indian engineering college, and Harani makes a strong critique of the Indian education system.
Various aspects of the film, from its direction and acting to its humor and story, received enthusiastic praise from fans and critics alike.But that success had consequences. three idiotsand as is often the case in the nature of fanaticism, the film’s aficionados had a devastating effect on the Ladakh region of northern India, where parts of the film were set and filmed.
Prior to the release of three idiots, Ladakh already had a thriving tourist trade, with many peace-seekers heading to the region in search of the beautiful lakes and mountains. Hirani’s film was initially perceived as a welcome economic boost, but as tourist numbers nearly quadrupled, Ladakh’s infrastructure no longer copes with the footfall of pedestrians, especially those who have no respect for the environment. I can’t do it anymore.
Ladakh’s picturesque landscape and culture served as a powerful advertisement for Ladakh. three idiotsAnd at the time of the movie’s release, many tourists and movie lovers visited the area to experience firsthand the beauty on the screen.
Pangong Lake, one of the most memorable locations in the film, suddenly has a higher level of football, leading to environmental degradation. Take into account the threat of irresponsible tourists and local wildlife, as well as the increase in trash and noise pollution that results from successful tourism. three idiots It was no longer of value to the people of Ladakh.
With 400,000 visitors a year, Ladakh’s waste management and infrastructure had already reached their limits. But the surge in tourists means the state and local businesses are unprepared to provide adequate accommodation, sanitation and transportation, leaving Ladakh covered in trash that makes up its natural beauty. It became a state.
Ladakh also has a cultural attraction of monasteries that is incomprehensible to movie buff tourists, and its authentic customs, beliefs and traditions have been largely ignored and downplayed. This led to the homogenization of Ladakhi culture itself, which was downplayed to appeal to the romantic notions portrayed within the film.
While tourism has naturally brought economic success to some of Ladakh’s local population, it has also created a divide between the fortunate who have benefited and the unlucky who have missed out. As Ladakh residents sought to cash in on the tourism boom, their traditional way of life was abandoned, leaving the region a shadow of its former quaint glory.
meanwhile three idiots While it certainly seemed to celebrate Ladakh as a natural paradise, the film itself had dire consequences for the region. This shows that directors need to take more responsibility in cooperating with local authorities in their work sites in order to create a more sustainable sense of tourism in the future.
