The film industry has engaged in a wordy tussle over a first of its kind open letter by more than two dozen well-known film and music personalities appealing to voters to elect a secular party in the lok Sabha election, appearing much like an unofficial campaign propaganda for a certain party or front. Many criticised the move openly, saying an organised appeal made sense when done under the aegis of an association, institution or party and not as an amorphous group of self-serving individuals who could very well have aired their opinions as a private citizen in newspaper articles, blogs or social media. Govind Nihalani, Vishal Bhardwaj, Imtiaz Ali, Zoya Akhtar, Mahesh Bhatt, Kundan Shah, Nandita Das, Shubha Mudgal and Swara Bhaskar are among those to have signed an open letter urging the voters to “vote for the secular party, which is most likely to win in your constituency”.
The letter reads, “The best thing about our country is its cultural diversity, its pluralism — the co-existence of a number of religions and ethnicities over centuries, and hence the blooming of multiple streams of intellectual and artistic thought. And, this has been possible only because Indian society has prided itself on being essentially secular in character, rejecting communal hatred, embracing tolerance. Today, that very sense of India is vulnerable. The need of the hour is to protect our country’s secular foundation. Undoubtedly, corruption and governance are important issues, but we will have to vigilantly work out ways of holding our Government accountable to that. However, one thing is clear: India’s secular character is not negotiable! Not now, not ever.”
Countered filmmaker and activist Ashok Pandit, “This open letter is an intellectual genocide. They are creating a divide in the film industry, which is the most cohesive multi-cultural community. If they are batting for a secular party, why cannot they name itIJ We are educated and don’t need advice from anybody on politics. The film industry has always been secular and there’s no point of spreading this agenda.” He said that the hidden intentions of a “few individuals” are exposed who have openly taken political sides. “I think under the garb of secularism, these people are spreading malicious campaigns against BJP, especially Narendra Modi. They are acting like spokespersons of Congress party and the third front. Why did all these petitioners keep mum during other pivotal incidents such as Nirbhaya rape, anti-corruption movement, CWG and 2G scamsIJ Alia Bhatt, daughter of one of the signatories and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, danced in UP at an event organised by the ruling SP after the Muzaffarnagar riots. Did anybody think of issuing a petition thenIJ Are they saying don’t return the SP to powerIJ Most people who have signed this letter are not even aware of the larger agenda of this activity. Sitting in the Rs 100-crore club, you cannot pass comments about poor people.”
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, who directed films like Chocolate and Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, slammed the petitioners by calling them ‘disgruntled individuals’. “They are elite intellectuals who have been beneficiaries of particular parties. Some of them have been pro left and Maoists. So how can they talk about secularismIJ There is nothing communal in Bollywood.
But this act will create confusion among people. How can they influence people without being affiliated to any political outfitIJ I am amused that a lot of people who don’t even understand the basics of politics have signed the letter. They write poems all the time and now they are part of this conspiracy,” said the director who has shared his stance over social issues on the Internet.
However, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt clarified that nowhere does the letter constitute the opinion of Bollywood at large or try to manipulate people. He is also not surprised at the growing criticism from within the fraternity. “If RSS can canvass for the BJP ideology and decide about their PM candidate, why cannot I, as an individual citizen, canvass for the CongressIJ” he retorted, while avoiding why he chose to react collectively than individually as is his usual style. Reacting to why such a united stand was not taken during other social upheavals, he said the film industry is waking up and realising its responsibility. “It is an archaic thought that artistes are apolitical. This needs to be junked. They now realise that decisions of Governments will have an enduring impact in their lives too,” he said, rejecting that the letter intends to conspire against the BJP. “I have always been vocal and proactive during any crisis in this country. It is blasphemous to call me apathetic towards the plight of the common people,” he said.
Scriptwriter Salim Khan also spoke out on a day the appeal was released saying Muslims needed to put behind the memories of 2002 Gujarat riots and move forward while insisting that the community found itself safe in the country. “When my mother died I felt I won’t be able to live but I am alive today, even my father died long back. Should I cry till nowIJ No one can justify that (the riots). It should never happen. I am sure Modi has learnt the lesson and that no one will die in his regime,” Salim, father of superstar Salman Khan, said as he inaugurated the Urdu version of Modi’s official website.
“Muslims are safe in Gujarat and have to move forward now. They have issues of unemployment, education and housing. Musalmaano ko kya lena dena hain politics se. Unhe toh do waqt ki roti chaiye aur ghar chaiye. (Muslims have nothing to do with politics. All they need is food and shelter),” he said. Bollywood filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar also took to Twitter to support the leader. “launching a personal attack on a man who has done more for his state than any other leader reeks of conspiracy and unwarranted paranoia,” he said.