Every so often, sections of India’s Hindi film industry
break into paroxysms of rage. A handful of stalwarts then vent their anger over
moves to snip movie scenes, junk them in entirety, or illegally block
screenings. Investments and livelihoods under threat, they justifiably spout
homilies to free speech.
One such episode is currently underway, hogging headlines
and prime air time. Udta Punjab, a crime thriller based on the narcotics
problem faced by the northern Indian state of Punjab, has led to a face-off
between its makers and the country’s film certification board headed by a
much-reviled Pahlaj Nihalani.
While the controversy itself is still unfolding, with the movie’s release date hanging due
to legal procedures, a section of industry veterans are out volubly defending the filmmakers’
right to, well, make films without being hounded for perceived breach of moral
or social codes.
Yet, one tends to suspect the conviction of these
vociferous voices. For, the industry has let many crucial “free speech moments”
pass in the past. During episodes when right to free speech faced the gravest
of threats, industry stalwarts have either maintained a stellar silence or even
harangued those who sought to push the envelope.
For instance, film producer Ashok Pandit, a member of the
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) himself, has lambasted the move to
censor Udta Punjab.
Yet, when comedian Tanmay Bhat recently
used a Snapchat video to rib two of India’s most iconic celebrities—legendary
playback singer Lata Mangeshkar and iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar—he, along
with a whole host of Bollywood celebrities, such as actors Riteish
Deshmukh and Celina Jaitley, were heard denouncing the young comedian.
They did this exactly when Pandit and friends ought to
have defended Bhat’s right to crack jokes—even crass ones. But holy cows are
not to be trifled with, you see.
Indeed, there’s never been a dearth of holy cows in
Bollywood; the kinds against whom nothing must be said—free speech be damned!
In fact, these holy cows themselves have often displayed schizophrenic
inconsistency vis a vis free speech.
A Jan. 2015 event organised by comedy collective All India
Bakchod (AIB), of which Tanmay Bhat is a member, went on to expose this.
One of the persons who self-righteously disapproved of AIB Roast—a radically new concept for India—was actor Aamir
Khan. This ticket-based live event involved top Bollywood personalities like
Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, and Karan Johar, cracking rude jokes and indulging
in ribaldry.
Apparently, Aamir couldn’t stomach it and joined the
morality brigade in scolding the roast participants. Yet, in the past few days,
Aamir has come out in support of Udta Punjab.
Apparently, each Bollywood celebrity has his or own
yardstick for free speech. And two factors determine them: one’s own livelihood
and the forces assembled in the opposition.
A few years ago, it was Aamir, along with director
Rajkumar Hirani and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who was fighting the good
fight. His movie PK was under attack by rightwing Hindutva fanatics for
allegedly ridiculing Hinduism.
When approached for its stand then, most of Bollywood
preferred to stay mute. After appearing on a television panel discussion on the
issue in the wake of the PK controversy in 2014, columnist Shobhaa De wrote:
I asked why the channel had not invited
someone more “tagda” (stronger) to represent Bollywood… The reply didn’t
surprise me—nobody of any importance from the movie industry wanted to speak
up—for the principle, not an individual.
I asked why the channel had not invited
someone more “tagda” (stronger) to represent Bollywood… The reply didn’t
surprise me—nobody of any importance from the movie industry wanted to speak
up—for the principle, not an individual.
Source: qz.com Written by: Harish C Menon
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