The Sense of Censorship

Freedom of expression has always been a core issue in any discussion of liberty. Democracies all over the world have been committed to protecting freedom of expression while also being vigilant about preventing its misuse. There are recurrent events where freedom of expression has been curbed to maintain the larger social stability/order/harmony or any other similar state of affairs.

One similar instance that occurred recently in India was preceding the release of a multilingual film Vishwaroopam. There were groups representing the Muslim community which alleged that the film portrayed the Muslim community in negative light. The Tamil version of the film was slated to be released on January 25th. Owing to the consistent protests by the opposing groups, the Tamil Nadu government first stayed the release of the film on 25thand later postponed it by two weeks. The producer-director of the film approached the Madras High Court through a writ petition. The court denied granting an interim injunction and stayed the release of the film. The court stated that it had not reached any conclusion about the merits and demerits of the casebut since the Republic Day was falling the next day the it took into considerationthe threats to law and order and security in the state and upheld the decision to stay the release of the film until a judge from the HC had seen the film and decided on the matter. The State Government was vindicated. The Union government appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider its decision and cited a Supreme Court judgment in which the apex court had juxtaposed thevarious provisions of the Cinematograph Act and the law and order powers which the state government has under the Constitution. The judgment  makes it clearthat Article 246, seventh schedule, list one, entry sixty gives the central government the powers to certify films for exhibition and once the Central Board for Film Certification has taken a particular view, it binds all the other instrumentalities of the state.

​The stalemate did not end there. The film continued to remain banned in the state of Tamil Nadu and was finally released when the producer struck a compromise with the protesting groups whereby some scenes would be removed from the film and the protests would be withdrawn.

​The entire episode - however clichéd it may appear to be due to its recurrence in the recent past - raises some larger questions about the actual freedom of expression available and innumerable sources of censorship that keep emerging in every such instance. We shall simply enlist the questions here,

•

Since the film was cleared by the Central board of film certification (the CENSOR board as it is popularly known) was it really of any business of any other authority to intervene in it?

•

Why did the Tamil Nadu govt straight away opt for a postponement of the release of the film? Could it have consulted the producers and theatre owners and asked them to postpone the release themselves?

•

Had it done so, could it have averted this controversy?

•

How could the groups that opposed the film on the pretext that it portrayed their community in a negative light know it before the film was released for public viewing?

•

Was the situation really so delicate that all the authorities including the Court believed that the film could pose a threat to communal harmony and law and order in the state?

•

There were some groups which opined that the film was portraying the Muslim community in the negative light could their position be taken as representing the entire Muslim community in particular and the society in general?

•

The film was released in other states and no instances of a hurt to communal sentiments and consequential law and order crisis were reported. Could that be taken as a litmus test to the entire issue?  

•

The groups were self-proclaimed representatives of the Muslim community. What about the duly elected popular representatives who’s representation of public opinion supposedly enjoys the highest legitimacy? Why did they keep mum?

•

Why did the state government not invite the two parties for negotiations-consultations and mediate itself before postponing and then imposing a ban on the film? What were the reasons that it had to bow down to the popular pressure?

•

Was the pressure really popular? Or was it just an inflated sectional pull that had political implications for the state government?

•

Being a democracy it is necessary that the state respects popular sentiments but is it going to bow down to popular pressure (which remains extremely vague and rather dubious term)? Particularly when something as fundamental as freedom of expression is involved?

•

The state seems to be invoking its discretion and resolve in extremely delicate and crucial issues ranging from setting up of a nuclear power plants to construction of dams and water sharing. Was this issue so difficult to handle that the state would have been unable to protect the freedom of expression and maintain law and order?

•

Why is it always so that the onus of proof is placed on the party whose freedom of expression is being curbed? The film was duly cleared by the legal machinery. In such instance was it not logcal to ask the protesting party to put forward its argument? Are we going to rely on the extremely dicey and vague argument of ‘hurt feelings’ every-time such an instance crops up?

•

Can we think of some other ways to test public opinion?

•

Would it be possible to bring some fundamental clarity in terms like ‘reasonable restrictions’, ‘hurt feelings’, ‘social morality, ethics and decency’ etc. or leaving them for contextual interpretation is a boon in disguise?

The ‘Vishwaroopam’ episode once again sparked off a debate aboutartistic liberty and social censorship. One interesting point that needs to be noted here is that why such ‘hurt feelings’ instances come to surface just before a film or any such artistic piece is set for public exhibition? This leads us to consider a few more questions such as,

•

What do these protesting groups do when these artworks are in making?

•

Are these protests genuine or are they simply a cheap ploy to get instant and free publicity?

•

Do they really stand up to protest on their own or are they instigated and given some ‘impetus’ to protest?

There is a host of other issues and questions involved in this. For the time being we shall conclude with these few preliminary questions.

HEROINE : My three impressions

One of the highly talked about films these days; Madhur Bhandarkar’s HEROINE. Another one in his ‘realist’ series. Madhur has produced several box-office hits as well as a hard hitting stories and the same was anticipated from HEROINE. However after watching the film I had three distinct impressions.

First: The film is itself a confused mass. While there are some excellent scenes, dialogues the film as a whole misses a consistency in story as well as its depiction. Even after considering the instable and inconsistent nature of the lead character Mahi, one cant deny the fact that the story simply fails to catch that inconsistency properly and ultimately what comes on the screen is a haphazard attempt..

Second: Unlike many other so called ‘realist’ films, which, if we observe carefully have a similar pattern, content and most importantly a typical ‘positive’ ending, HEROINE goes down a different path. Obviously it cant be radically different given the topic which it addresses Madhur has been careful enough to avoid the familiar ‘realist film’ identity. HEROINE’s uniqueness lies in its inconsistency to which I refered above. It simply disassociates itself from a realist image which is ‘acceptable’ to the audience and hence disloyal to its motif.

Third : Resembling to a character in this film named Tapanda- a bengali Director. A National award winner, skilled in making off-beat realist films Madhur got caught betweenn making a truly realist film staying loyal to his creativity and the pressures of making a sellable commercial craft. Balancing the two is an probably impossible and hence the film remains a hotchpotch.

The music of the film is average. Many tracks and fillers remind of Madhur’s earlier blockbuster Fashion and compell the audience to compare the two films. The comparison undoubtedly tilts in the favor of the Latter.

As far as portrayal of characters by the artists is considered, Kareena does a creditable job but still falls short of the mark she herself has set for her. Arjun Rampal has done a fairly good job but at places appears monotonus. Shahana Goswami, Ranvir Shorey make a remarkable impresison even in their cameos. While characters like Mugdha Godse, Ranjeet Hooda have done a average job. Their characters reflect the same inconsistency as the film. Some characters are simply annoying and leave the audience wondering about the justifications of them getting the parts.

            All and all, HEROINE is good film falling much shorter than what it could have been.

Victor or Winner

They say that the winner takes it all. Sometimes I really wonder whether or not there is a difference between a winner and a victor. Who is the bigger one? Just like a battle is temporary and war is long I feel the victor is of the moment and winner is the one who lasts. So to cut the chase my question is what does one should try to be? A winner or a victor?

It's true that ultimately the history remembers the one who won! But hey, the battle of Waterloo? We always want to emerge successful in an endeavor that we undertake but really is it that important to be successful all the time? How would we learn to value and cherish the success if we haven’t tasted failure? Shouldn’t we b ready to accept the fact that there are many more walking on the same road and eyeing the same peak. Only one of them can be at the top. And everyone gets their turn. Whether or not we won the battle becomes immaterial when we make sure that the war does not slip out of our hand. The ultimate winner shall always shadow the victor.

A victor can have the screams and cheers of the admirers for the time being but it's the winner who shall always have the last laugh! And one last thought for the winner. There is no use in being too polite and too modest all the time. Even if you know that you’ll rise above all and conquer the peak there is no harm in showing that ability and superiority of yours once in a while. Because a modest competitor is always underestimated by the smugging opponents who’s rein does not even last as long as a rainbow! So to my real winner I shall say that it’s worth showing the others their ‘rightful’ place once in a while not only through your deeds but also your words. Let the smug taste their own medicine!

Cheers to the Winner. To the Victors I’d just like to say enjoy it while it lasts! And see if you could rise up to the next level.

Ruckus over the 'Ratna'

     Every other day I open the newspaper or switch on a news channel one or the other person demanding The Bharatratna for someone who according to that person has given his/her highest contribution for the country. The human emotion that lies behind this is quite understandable. It is obvious for one to feel that the one whom he/she considers a role model not only for his/her own self but for the entire society, whose work is exemplary and who has dedicated a great effort and time of his/her life should be awarded with an honor. I am also ready to concede that most of such demonstrations fall in this category.

     But despite conceding to this emotional side one thing that consistently comes to my mind is that to what extent do we let our personal as well as our social life run by these emotional drives? We boast of being a rational animal' i do not believe in the dichotomy of emotions and rationality but i do believe that each has its own place. While our love,affection for a person makes us proactive to demand something for that person the thing we call 'Honor' our rationality should inform us that we are actually belittling that person.

    All of us are constantly engaged in some kind of work. Marx calls us 'working animal'. There are types of this kind of animals. Each one has a different purpose and a different drive that lies behind this urge to work. We commoners work for our daily bread-butter ( in India butter is still a luxury for many 'commoners' also but we seem to have worked our definition out). There are some who identify their benefit and work ceaselessly to achieve it. There are visionaries who work for some great cause that embraces the good of many. They take many with them and give them a purpose and a sense of comradeship. Those who work for a cause are not bothered by these things and those who aim at applause work their way around properly. I do not intend to make a judgement over which is a better motive to work. That is not my purpose to write this article. Each one is entitled to work by the virtue of being a 'working animal' and to choose the way one wants to by the virtue of being a 'thinking animal'. My concern is how far are we going to be engaged in this hunt for 'honor'? As a society we must rise above these things at some point of time and that point cannot be pushed ahead by us.

     I do not deny the fact that it is our duty as a society to recognize and reward the great efforts made by individuals as well as organizations. This not only encourages those working hands but also inspires other souls to join hands with them. There have been many examples when we failed to recognize and duly reward contributions of legends. But to me that is a shame on us and in no way decreases the value of those contributions. We should be alert and earnest enough to show our gratitude towards such individuals. As a alert society it surely is our duty to raise our voice and make the authority listen and give an authorised recognition (to say so). But if those in charge are deaf enough to ignore these voices why should we be so eager to soar our throats and sour the taste of the achievements of the people whose work admire and respect. Respect should be commanded not demanded. No good work can go unnoticed. Those who fail to notice it are unfortunate and those who are obsessed to attract other's attention to it become pitiable beyond a certain point.
    An award is simply a formal recognition to someone's work. But that is not the ultimate one. Think about all the saints, philosophers and legends who had profound impacts on societies all over the globe. Which awards were they given? What title was conferred upon them? On the contrary many of them were subjected to humiliation and torture. The fact that today even after centuries have gone by we still remember their work is enough of a evidence to the greatness of those personalities and their work. A person is given his/her due recognition when the work done by him/her is carried forward and when the dreams are realized.

     In today's world where media has eyes and ears wide open like a hawk over everything that happens in the society such instances become an issue of mostly unfruitful prime-time debates and achieve no more than a mockery of some valuable contribution. It's high time we realise this and stop making a fool of ourselves. the sooner we realise this the better we maintain the 'honor' of us as also of those whom we admire.

'ये हृदयीचे ते हृदयी..'


    मनाच्या प्रत्येक जाणिवेसरशी असंख्य विचारांचं  एक वादळ उठत असत. सुरुवातीला कोणे एके काळी, 'ही वादळ का उठतात?' असा प्रश्न पडायचा. अनेकदा असंही वाटून जायचं कि हे विचार करणं, प्रत्येक गोष्टीचा आगा-पिछा पडताळून पाहणं हे सगळे त्रास कशासाठी? कारण अनेक प्रश्न अखेर अनुत्तरीतच राहतात. मग शांतपणे बसून 'मी भला आणि जे घडतंय ते हि भलं' ह्या न्यायाने का जगू नये? पण काही देणग्या अश्या असतात कि त्यांची महती जरा उशिरानेच कळते. सुरुवातीला जाच वाटणाऱ्या गोष्टींचं मोल हळू हळू उमजायला लागतं  आणि मग हे 'त्रास' नाहिसे होतात. 'मीच का?' 'मला ह्या चिंता लागतातच कशाला?' असे प्रश्न हळू हळू विरत  जाऊन  त्यांची जागा 'हे घडणार नसेल  तर मी आहे तरी काय?' यासरखे अधिक महत्वाचे प्रश्न घेतात आणि त्यांची उत्तरं शोधण्यात वेळ घालवण्यापेक्षा त्यातून येणारी जबाबदारी ओळखणं जास्त महत्वाचं आहे याचं भान येतं.

       'आपण 'विचारवंत' झालोय किंवा आपल्याला अचानक काहीतरी दिव्य दृष्टी मिळाली आहे आणि ती जगाला देऊन जगाला काही संदेश द्यायचा आहे....' असा अहंगंड माझ्या मनाला अजून शिवलेला नाही आणि तो शिवू नये अशीच प्रार्थना आहे. मला जे काही बरं - वाईट सुचतं, मनाला जेव्हा काहीतरी रुचतं किंवा खोलवर काहीतरी टोचतं ते चार चौघांना बोलून दाखवावसं वाटतं, त्यांना काय वाटतं हे जाणून घ्यावस वाटतं, 'ये  हृदयीचे ते हृदयी' हा प्रवास घडावासा वाटतो म्हणून हा लेखनप्रपंच..

तुमचा 

--सिद्धनाथ गानू