Aamir Khan’s support for the Narmada Bachao Andolan led to an unofficial ban on the film Fanaa in Gujarat which in turn has led to the film industry coming together.
MUMBAI: It takes one action to set off a chain of reactions, which should be familiar to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. And so Aamir Khan’s support for the Narmada Bachao Andolan led to an unofficial ban on the film Fanaa in Gujarat which in turn has led to the film industry coming together. A personage no less than Amitabh Bachchan, spoke out in support of Khan.
Now others have followed. Hrithik Roshan is vehement and emphatic. “I am ashamed to live in a country where one political party can use the power given to them by the people to punish and rob a person of his democratic rights. The concerned party has shown the highest level of immaturity by stopping the screening of Fanaa. It’s just an attempt to scare off Aamir and the rest of the film fraternity from taking such stands in the future,” said the actor.
The film industry is also bothered by the loss of revenue and wants the government to step in. Filmmaker Yash Chopra said, “I am losing Rs one crore daily.”
He met both Information & Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi and Modi, “They had assured me that the matter will be sorted out but unfortunately they have not come up with a solution yet.”
Stung by the criticism that there is no unity in Bollywood, The Film Producers’ Guild, of which Khan is a member, has also taken a stand. Said guild president Amit Khanna, “If Fanaa is not released in Gujarat by Friday, then we will take the necessary legal steps to ensure that our fundamental rights are not violated. Some actors like Anil Kapoor feel that fans will soon make their demands clear. “The common man is least interested in political agendas,” according to actor Anil Kapoor.
The film industry however regrets that its political connections do not always come through. “The minute an actor or filmmaker becomes a politician, he starts talking in the language of the political party he represents instead of taking a stand for the industry,” said Pahlaj Nihalani, president of the Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producers.
Filmmaker Vipul Shah, who is from Gujarat, says he understands the ground realities in the state, where families go without drinking water for a week. But, he said, “The issue here is that Aamir’s comments have been blown out of proportion. All he is asking for is the rehabilitation of those displaced by the construction of the dam.”
Hrithik Roshan reiterated this point, “What is ridiculous is that they have not even understood what he’s standing up for. He’s not against the dam, but for the rehabilitation of the concerned people. I mean, what kind of IQ do these gentlemen have? They are behaving like bullies. I am with Aamir.”
With inputs from Shubha Shetty-Saha
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