Have you ever watched a Bollywood movie and found yourself scratching your head at the various Hindi terms being thrown around? Fear not, my non-Indian friends. Today, we will be decoding one of the most commonly used words in Indian cinema - 'Bhai'.
What is 'Bhai'?
At its core, 'Bhai' simply means brother. However, in India (especially in Mumbai), it has taken on a whole new meaning.
The literal meaning of 'bhaai'
In Hindi, 'भाई' translates to brother. This word carries immense importance in Indian culture as brothers are considered an integral part of family dynamics. Brothers are supposed to protect their sisters from harm's way and ensure that they receive ample love and attention.
But what does 'Bhai' mean when referring to people outside of familial relationships?
In South Asia (particularly India), calling someone "brother" or "sister" actually conveys respect for them even if there isn't any blood relation between them. In many parts of North India, ''bhaai'', came to signify not just older or younger brothers but also anyone who was elder than you or commanded more respect like teachers or elderly members of society.
Nowadays though, "bhaai/brother = protective figurehead with some amount of political clout"
Bollywood's Obsession with Bhai
Who started the trend?
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when Bollywood caught onto this trend because ''bhaai culture'' has been embedded deep within the populace for centuries! A trend that gained popularity during 90s due movies made by Ram Gopal Verma which depicted bhaais as self-made men who had risen up against all odds.
However,it’s safe to say that Salman Khan's massively popular 2002 movie, 'Tere Naam', had a huge role in cementing the word 'Bhai' as a symbol of masculinity and power. Khan's character, Radhe Mohan, is affectionately referred to as 'Radhe Bhaiyya' throughout the film.
How are Bhai characters portrayed?
Most Bollywood movies depict the 'Bhai' figurehead as someone who values loyalty above all else, maintains close relationships with his friends (read: goons), and isn't afraid to use violence when necessary. However,it’s worthwhile noting that because subsequent blockbuster films like Dabangg ,Wanted nad Ek Tha Tiger kept on portraying Salman "Being human"Khan as an ‘action hero’ which became synonymous with him being called bhaai
Different Types of Bhais
It is important to remember that there are different types of Bhais . Not all women-loving Italian aficionados can be clubbed into one hypermasculine group!
The Protective Bhai
In India , people fear safety constantly whether it’s their life or those around them.So every neighbourhood has this bhai who keeps everyone in check and makes sure peace management is maintained.He also always knows your parents so don’t try getting up to any hanky panky.Basically he takes security overboard!
The Mafia-esque Don-like Bhai
These guys aren’t necessarily family men but instead hold immense amount of power through underhanded tactics.They know how everything works behind closed doors including corrupt police officials.Their minions distribute drugs,money,political propaganda and sometimes even body organ while they oversee everything from far away.Sounds familiar? Almost like every Indian political party boss?!
Now onto Bollywood’s favourite type:
The quirky yet lovable "Bade Dil Wala" Gangster
This kind doesn’t necessarily want to be known as a bhai.Instead,he wants his mark to know that he has no remorse for what lies ahead.But the audience knows better than to fall for this exterior.The movie "Deewar" falls in this category .Amitabh Bachhan's character is relatable and wants nothing more than love from his estranged mother.Realistically though,this guy is packed with guns and possesses enough fighting skills to take down an entire army but hey at least we don't feel too intimidated when sitting across him right?!
Famous Bhais of Bollywood
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Salman Khan aka 'Bhaijaan': This man needs no introduction.He’s an actor who’s the embodiment of ‘bromance’.Millenials,LGBTQI+ or any self-respecting adult out there- everyone loves Bhai!
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Sanjay Dutt He made quite a name for himself playing maverick characters on screen.Thinking about Aditya Pancholi in “Yes Boss” ? Nope? Instead think Munna Bhai because let’s face it,if anyone can make sure Criminal Law becomes cooler-it's gotta be Sanju Baba.
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Shatrugan Sinha -If you’ve heard sunesara,Pati Patni aur Woh ,you already know which gangster I am talking about.Despite being primarily known as villainous duo role player alongside Amjad Khan,Sinha used his imposing voice and physique effectively.Shortly thereafter,it became increasingly difficult to visualise him as anything other than our favourite bad boy.
The 'Bhai' Trend Goes Global
In recent times,'Bhai' has even transcended borders.South Asians living abroad have embraced the word wholeheartedly, using it affectionately amongst themselves - much like how native English speakers say "bro".
Remember the infamous ''Karl Rock 'incident', back in February 2020?
Karl Rock, an American vlogger based in India who produces travel-related content about the South Asian country on his YouTube channel of the same name, was expelled from India for violating visa rules. To many Indians and enthusiasts alike,this was just a old fashioned "serves you right' scenario.
However,the comments section proved to be a completely different playing field.A majority of viewers gathered that they had no issue with Karl as long as he wasn't disrespectful towards their culture or beliefs.Well,it goes without saying that once “BHAI ” entered into conversation,Karl immediately became part South Asian himself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to remember that 'Bhai' isn't just another Hindi word thrown around carelessly in Bollywood movies. It represents loyalty,respect ,brotherhood,outlaw-a-licious notions - all neatly packaged into one juicy word.Seeing how it's such a commonly used term nowadays,it’s sanskaari homies would have been so proud!