FWICE condemns #BoycottPathaan trend, seeks protection against 'unfair' protests and hooliganism

The Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) has issued a statement and condemned the ongoing trend of #BoycottPathaan and sought immediate protection against hooliganism in theatres and threats to the producers. FWICE in a statement said that indiscriminate boycotts of all Bollywood films shall not be accepted and allowed at any cost.

"The recent trend of "#Boycott Bollywood" has been affecting the producers and lakhs of workers working for the films and it has been serious noted by the FWICE as it has raised a major situation of survival of the common workers, technicians and the artists who are earning their daily bread from this industry. It is not only the producer/writer or the director but there are lakhs of crewmembers associated with one film. There is a huge investment in films and lakhs of people earn their livelihood from it. With such a large enterprise, it is natural that filmmakers have to do their utmost to make the product which will fetch the best returns," the statement reads.

"It is easy for people to boycott a film but what about the producer who has invested huge in making of the film. A film is made with a passion and dream of success. However, these blooming dreams get shattered with such trends which are many a times influenced by people believing into hatred and those who do not support peace, harmony and unity. People have been barging into the theatres and threatening the public and forcefully vacating the theatres. There have been threats to the producers and the lead actor/actresses. They are abused on social media platforms with filthy/vulgar language," the statement added.

Recently workers of the Hindu Jagran Manch, a right-wing organisation, staged a demonstration at INOX theatre, in Madhya Pradesh`s Indore, demanding that the management not release the movie here. The workers raised slogans and also submitted a memorandum to the theatre management for not releasing Pathaan in the theatre. 

President of Hindu Jagran Manch Jagdish Khatri said, "If the film Pathaan is released, then there will be a fierce protest. Today, we have given a memorandum to the management of Inox Theater regarding the non-release of the film."FWICE statement further stated, "We strongly condemn these acts and the boycotting of any film which is already certified by the final cell of the Film authorities which is the CBFC. Getting a film certified through the CBFC is itself an achievement as the film and the filmmakers are going through the entire process of certification. The protestors of the film should thus follow the right channel and report their grievances against the film to the CBFC and other governing authorities rather than blindly coming up with such destructive trends to blatantly boycott the entire industry. We appreciate people boycotting films for their rights and reasonable objections but an indiscriminate boycott of all Bollywood films shall not be accepted and allowed at any cost. This should end somewhere."The members of Bajrang Dal, part of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), on January 4 created a ruckus at Alpha One Mall in Ahmedabad`s Vastrapur and threatened the mall authority that if this film is released, then they will start an even fiercer protest.

"FWICE stands strong in support of the producers who are creating films and generating employment to lakhs of people and help them to earn their living and survive with dignity. We urge the government to intervene in the matter and stop this trend of "Boycott Bollywood", the statement concluded. Helmed by Siddharth Anand `Pathaan` is all set to hit the theatres on January 25, 2023.