Padmaavat finally releases tomorrow. States must ensure they do not get held to ransom again
The period drama Padmaavat is finally scheduled to release this week, but the rash of screenings the producers have done for the movie in the past few months has meant that many people have already seen the movie. The huge delays have also meant that the stars of the movie can't dedicate more time to promote the film's release as they have started other projects and given the controversy surrounding the film, few of the film's stars have said much in public. However, the shameful, publicity-seeking behavior by the so-called Karni Sena, an agglomeration of disparate people with ties to political parties across the spectrum many of whom are failed politicians, threatening violence towards the makers and actors of the movie is shameful. And for the States that did,to have succumbed to such bullying tactics by appealing to the Supreme Court to allow it to ban the movie is even more shameful. The only appropriate place for these goons who have indulged in violence is jail. How on earth can the Prime Minister sell the virtues of the nation to global investors in Davos when back home such elements commit wanton arson, undermining his position and that of the GovernmentIJ
Also, while there is no absolute freedom of speech in India, and the guardians of 'liberalism' should remember that this is thanks to their hero Jawaharlal Nehru, once a movie has been given Censor Board certification there should be no other issues raised. One might debate the necessity of the Censor Board in today's day and age, but the fact is it is the system that we have. Once a movie has been cleared, disparate bodies should not come pleading to the Supreme Court that a movie should be stopped due to law and order and/or public order concerns because it will wound some fragile egos. It is the job of the members of the Censor Board to consider all of these facts given India's reasonable restrictions on free speech and as the Supreme Court rightly said it is the job of the state to provide effective policing. It is stupefying that State governments cannot guarantee police protection and wanted to abdicate responsibility. Movie-hall owners of course have the freedom to choose whether to release a movie but if the state cannot guarantee protection of their property they are not left with much of a choice.
We all have a choice to watch a movie or to not to, but we should not give in to cultural vigilantes. Nothing should stop anyone from watching a certified movie. So, this weekend, go watch Padmaavat if you want or don't if you have better things to do. But do not get bullied by these louts again.