It seems that the movie
"Tamasha" has brought some real life tamasha in a PVR Cinema hall. It
happened during a late night show of Tamasha.
In an inopportune development, an
unfortunate video is doing rounds these days on social media where it is seen
that a family – one man, three women and a child (possibly a Muslim Family) –
who were made to leave a PVR cinema hall (probably in Juhu or Kurla in Mumbai)
by people around them. The reason for their ouster was that "they had
disrespected the national anthem" by "not standing up" while it
was being played as a customary ritual before the beginning of the movie. The
incident came to light when a moviegoer filmed the altercation and posted it on
Twitter and Face book, leading to an online uproar.
I was stunned when a group member shared
the video on WhatsApp. After that I observed the reactions of group members,
which were mostly likes, super likes and thumbs-up in support of the crowd. In
some other groups too, I noticed similar reactions. I read tweets and comments
under many articles published on various platforms on this controversy, where I
observed that there was a clear division between people in their responses.
Some had cheered it, while some questioned the need for "playing the national
anthem" before the beginning of a movie (a practice followed by cinemas in
Maharashtra since 2003).
But as I watched the video, I got upset
not by seeing the family which was defending its stand of "not standing
while the anthem was playing" but by seeing "the duality of the
behavior" of the crowd, who were shouting at the family. It is really
regrettable that the family was forced to exit the cinema hall and their ouster
was applauded by those seated inside the hall.
The reason why I got upset was seeing the
sheer duality of people who were in the hall and bullying the family. Many may
not agree with me but the fact is that if I ask how many of them attend flag
hoisting on Independent Day / Republic Day in their area, I'm sure I will not
get a 100 percent yes. Let alone attending flag hoisting, let me ask those
people and those who say "its unpatriotic" or
"anti-national" if you don't stand up while the national anthem is
playing, how many of them haven't considered "Republic Day" or
"Independent Day" as a holiday?
Considering these national days as
holidays…isn't it unpatriotic? Most of us also don't even go to cast our votes
during elections. What should we call that? I mean the list will be a really
long one…where we have sheer double standards to measure the
"patriotism" with different yardsticks.
Again, in the
cinema hall itself by forcing the family to leave the cinema…what exactly did
they prove? Hooliganism! It can clearly be heard from the kind of language,
sorry "vulgar language" being used by the self proclaimed
"patriots". One of them was heard saying "thappad maroonga" (I will slap
you). And since when did hooliganism become "nationalistic or
patriotic"? And what would have been the scene had the family refused to
leave the cinema hall?
Nothing
but violence? And who said that you can take the law in your hands and become
jingoistic?
As
per my knowledge, it is not mandatory to stand while the national anthem is
being played. But it doesn't amount to "disrespect" (at least
legally) if someone choses to sit while the national anthem is being played
unless he/she prevents others from singing it or create disturbances in
between. No where it is written that it is "unpatriotic" if you don't
stand when the national anthem is being played.
I
think we should stop judging "patriotism" in this way. The fact is
that if the video is an accurate portrayal of what actually took place, then
the family could also consider suing the cinema under the Consumer Protection
Act for physical threats as well as for the disruption in the cinema
experience. That speaks volumes about the law of the land. How many of you really
say that the "crowd showed patriotism"? It's simply felonious
behavior.
Point
is "patriotism" can't be forced. It is definitely a mark of respect
to "stand up and pay attention" to the national anthem but not
necessarily a disrespect if you don't stand. I don't have anything to say to
those who don't stand up for the national anthem. I would prefer to leave it to
their call instead of taking law of the land in hand and spoiling the sanctity
of the atmosphere where the national anthem is being played. I feel that way I
would pay highest respect to the national anthem. It unites people and never
divides them.
