World is still not spooked enough by India to sustain a reel genre

Though Agent Vinod has not lived up to its licenced-to-thrill promise, that the escapades of an Indian spy were deemed to be worth (re)chronicling at all marks a huge leap of faith. After all, a decade ago, no one — least of all Indians themselves — would have thought the theme was plausible, let alone doable.

That is probably why the original film tanked at the box-office a generation ago. Given India’s emerging power status and widening geopolitical interests these days, however, the idea has gained credence enough for a suave Bollywood star to contemplate a remake.

Perhaps, because it is now conceivable that the government would fork out the foreign exchange to fund a desi spy’s globe-trotting shenanigans, instead of leaving him to survive on the 1970s’ foreign exchange limit of $8.

In a curious change of circumstances, there could even be a demand for Indian spooks in real life, now that modern-day James Bonds and Ethan Hunts face the prospect of their champagne and smashedcar bills being rejected by bean counters in London and Langley.

In reel life, one spy film will not a genre make despite plans for sequels or similar themes, nor is there a likelihood just yet of the kind of award-winning movie and TV spin-offs that the US and British intelligence operations once inspired.

Not only because India has not achieved the kind of stature in the world of dirty tricks to prompt more such storylines, but also because the very nature of our spydom — where entrants come via all-India examinations — does not lend itself to cinematic lore.

There is always the lurking thought that mandarins in the Union Public Service Commission, not gritty counter-espionage veterans, select our G-men, so Agent Vinod could well have become Customs Agent Vinod had he fared better in the merit rankings....