The observations of the Allahabad High Court in the context of the atrocious film ‘Adipurush’ have come as a big relief. By drawing a comparison with what the reaction to such a negative and crude portrayal of the Quran would be, the judge aired a popular sentiment, almost cathartic in nature.
In the last four decades of covering politics as a journalist, I have often heard resentment against the double standards by which the religious sentiments of Muslims and Hindus are judged by the establishment and the media.
In fact, such is the dread of Muslim reprisals against sacrilege of Islam that there is an “automatic censorship” being practiced by all, including the media. Hindus and their religious deities, on the other hand, common people complained, have been “free for all to ridicule and laugh at”.
The fact that the makers of the film are Hindus goes to prove the point that the desecration has become a norm and Hindus themselves do not care about it. The court observations are welcome, but not enough, as evident in the common views being expressed about ‘Adipurush’. Why is the film being allowed to be screened at all? Why are the filmmakers, who should be worrying about how to avert a jail term for the “crime” they have committed, laughing all the way to the bank? The film has reaped Rs 450 crore worth of business worldwide.
I personally agree with the viewpoint that the film screening should be suspended. In fact, there are solid grounds to ban such a film: the assault on aesthetic sensibilities, injury to religious sentiments and threat to communal peace.
People are also angry at the government that swears by the Hindutva ideology and then appoints such “mindless” people on the censor board who have the insensitivity to pass such a film. In the public perception, the filmmakers are not the only “criminals” here. Those involved in clearing the film from the top to the bottom, the common opinion says, should be booked.
How dare they issue a clearance certificate to such an atrocity of a film? Are they blind, mute and deaf? Are they illiterate? Have they lost their minds? Were they bribed? These are the common questions being asked.
It would be great if the court were to consider the questions and come up with an order that fixes all the players responsible for making, clearing and screening the film.
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