“Don’t blame it on the sunshine. Don’t blame it on the moonlight. Don’t blame it on the good times. Blame it on the boogie“, goes the classic song by The Jacksons from the 70s. To make this song relevant in today’s world, we just have to replace the word “boogie” with “Modi”.
There has been a lot of debate recently on media and social media, about India’s engagement levels with Pakistan. Pakistan sponsored terrorists have been constantly attacking India in the past few weeks. The Uri attack which saw 18 of our soldiers martyred was the start, and ever since, multiple attempts have been made by terrorists to cause more damage, but our armed forces have foiled such attacks.
In the backdrop of this, calls have come from many sections of society to completely isolate Pakistan. The Government of India has acted on the Military, Political and Diplomatic fronts, since it is completely within the purview of the state. The cultural angle is where there has been some debate. One side feels Pakistani artistes should be isolated, not only because they are Pakistani, but also because they refused to condemn the Uri attacks. The rest feel artistes are a separate class of people beyond such issues. There is also the argument that Pakistan should be hit economically as well, which is why many people have started movements such as #BoycottChineseGoods, and even movies which indirectly benefit Pakistani citizens.
Even as the above debate was going on, the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association (COEA) announced that it has requested its members to no longer screen films starring Pakistani artistes, including actors and music directors. This will hit Karan Johar’s upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, starring Fawad Khan among others.
The Government on its part has not issued any order against Pakistani artistes or movies featuring them. The Home Ministry in fact has said categorically that the Government has no problem giving VISAs to Pakistani artistes. “Modi-chamcha” Pahlaj Nihalani attacked COEA for their decision, and “Modi-controlled” Censor Board cleared Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. But inspite of all of this, Director Anurag Kashyap chose twitter to vent out his frustrations at PM Modi:
@narendramodi Sir you haven’t yet said sorry for your trip to meet the Pakistani PM.. It was dec 25th. Same time KJo was shooting ADHM? Why?
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) October 16, 2016
@narendramodi why is it that we have to face it while you can be silent??
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) October 16, 2016
Social media users found these messages highly stupid and idiotic. Many said that how would addressing the PM help if a Bollywood Industry body had taken the step. Many also highlighted how Kashyap had lost the plot by recalling a peace-time friendly gesture, but not acknowledging the most recent surgical strikes authorised by India on Pakistan:
Idiot, has government banned ADHM? Are cinema owners part of the government? Is the blame for failure of ‘Bombay Velvet’ also Modi’s? https://t.co/WFM1utCHKK
— The Bad Doctor (@DOCTORATLARGE) October 16, 2016
Are they that stupid to not understand that there’s no official ban??
They are not.. They are just peddling false “Fascist Govt” agenda… https://t.co/tDPM0Sfdr3— Ekita (@LostByWaves) October 16, 2016
I supported @anuragkashyap72 on Udta Punjab censorship. But maybe I was wrong in supporting an empty, biased, hatemonger https://t.co/WKa87rDz4l
— The Bad Doctor (@DOCTORATLARGE) October 16, 2016
Idiot, PM has not asked for a ban or a boycott of Pakistani actors. In fact Govt has refused to revoke their visa. Barking the wrong tree https://t.co/p9kNiPcbJg
— हम भारत के लोग (@India_Policy) October 16, 2016
. @anuragkashyap72 Please Read Carefully. pic.twitter.com/V9gWpOcu3m
— Bad Company. (@RowdyTalks) October 16, 2016
Sir you haven’t yet said sorry for making Bombay Velvet. it was 15th may 2015. Same time Rajamouli was shooting Baahubali? why? https://t.co/Ew6i9I97ZS
— Harpik Patel (@HarpikPatel) October 16, 2016
Black Friday was banned by Govt. ADHM is a citizens initiative. Guess who Kashyap questions? https://t.co/9zneOFamP0
— Divya (@divya_16_) October 16, 2016
A shopkeeper decides what products to display in his shop & what not. Equally applies to movie theater. What has Modi got to do with that? https://t.co/42fyM7RJRF
— Jitendra Jain (@JitendraJain_) October 16, 2016
If Kashyap feels so strongly about this ban, he should probably take the COEA to court. Its time the on-screen maverick displays some real life bravado against his own fraternity, instead of dragging unrelated people to score political points.
One also wonders why so much outrage over the “request” of an association of single screen cinema owners to their members to stop playing movies involving Pakistanis. Firstly, its only a “request” which many may flout and secondly Ae Dil Hai Mushkil doesnt seem like a movie for the single screen crowd. Is this another publicity stunt, as this person pointed out?
Any new movie of @anuragkashyap72 coming out now? Poor chap seems to have run out of marketing budget. https://t.co/NHaqzZ9p0R
— Arnold’s Soundness (@brakoo) October 16, 2016
Only time will tell if this move by Kashyap may hurt prospects of ADHM even more, since Modi fans may choose to boycott this movie too, as Kashyap has made this issue needlessly political.
