Sitting 7218.57 kms from home (courtesy mapcrow) I never thought I'll be writing about issues - social, political or otherwise. But here I am reading this less than a week of the Da Vicni Code controversy.
I don't know why it took so many years of stardom for Aamir Khan to realize his social obligations. But at least he has. My sincerest thanks and hearty congratulations for his enlightenment. As some wise men would say - "Bettter late than never.."
India is (supposed) to be a democracy, and it is a fundamental right to be able to speak one's mind. Aamir did it on the Vadodara and Modi (and also Bush - see why I consider him to be God ? Man, he is omnipresent !!) and on the Narmada issue he says --
...I do not know about the technicalities involved in raising the height of the dam. What I do know is that farmers have been displaced from their land and they have lost their livelihood. Till the people who have already been displaced by the dam are not rehabilitated, the height of the dam should not be raised...
(link from here - and why he might have done thus is speculated here and here).
Maybe he has some personal issues with Gujarat that he comes up with something to oppose that has a connection to the state. May be next time he'll take up the issue of the Wild Asses of Kutch (no pun intended - check link).
But is that enough of an issue to ban movies from multiplexes ? No it isn't. And it isn't why the Multiplexes in Gujarat are planning to "ban" it. This is what ibnLive writes --
...the BJP has threatened to disrupt screenings of the film if cinemas release it on Friday..
And it is not something to be surprised of. They have done it before. And I quote from this article...
...upwardly mobile youth are the main proponents of "Western influence," displayed through such "anti-Hindu" festivities as Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve celebrations. But they are met with fierce opposition from the BJP and sister organizations such as the Rashtriya Svayamsevak Sangh (literally translated, "national self-help group") the self-appointed guardians of Hinduism and Indian culture. This ideological clash has led to protests and acts of vandalism every February 14 for the last five years...
and it goes on...
...This year, an edict issued by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP, the student's wing of the BJP) in Jalandhar (Punjab) threatens courting couples with a shotgun wedding if they are found frolicking in public. Navnath Satpute, a Mumbai member of the ABVP claims that this might be so because "there could be children passing by and such acts will have a bad influence on them." ...
And we all know they are the reason why "Water" will probably (perhaps definitely) never be released in India. With such influential, violent and irresponsible guardians of morality and archetypal pillars of bogotry against you, you don't stand a chance. Add to that the fact that these people are actually ruling the state as well !
So there you have it. The choice is between risking the well-being of you investement (which in this case is your multiplex) or disappoint the level-headed, genuine movie fans.
But this comment on ibnLive has me to believe that it there might not be too many of the "level-headed" breed living in Gujarat now...
...Yashraj films asking for higher price in tickets that shows how much important of Gujarat & multiplex both. Why he is not convincing Amir who is root of the cause???Amir and others have to learn that without knowing any issue, they should not jump into matter and harm to sentiment of people. We Gujju are helping but very very sentiment for Gujarat. Jay Jay Garvi Gujarat....
When will India understand democracy is not about waking up one fine-morning, standing in a queue and getting your finger marked so that you can boast about you being more democratic than the other-guy who did not (because he knew, there was no use, anyway, whoever wins the grass will still remain greener on the otherside).
0 comments:
Post a Comment