Why the film industry MUST SAY #NotInMyName?!

By Faridoon Shahryar -

June 30, 2017 - 10:04 AM IST

It's often said in recent times that people from the film world should not speak about political matters of the country since they are naachne-gaane waale and don't know much about the intricate matters afflicting the country. It's ironical that there's a bunch of film folks who have been relentlessly making political comments and now even making politically 'motivated' films but they are allowed to get away with any sort of political statements, howsoever divisive and regressive they might be. At a time when India has been swayed by the #NotInMyName campaign that has attracted international media's attention too, let's find out what are a few of the things that the film industry should say #NotInMyName to.

Why the film industry MUST SAY #NotInMyName?!

Lynching of the self-respect of actors and filmmakers
Sanjay Leela Bhansali was assaulted on the sets of Padmavati in the most reprehensible manner in Jaipur. Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan were attacked in the public sphere as well as the virtual social media world in the most inhuman manner. Zaira Wasim was made to feel bad for her success by the blood thirsty goons who find cinema un-Islamic. Karan Johar was forced into issuing a promise that he won't be casting Pakistani actors in his movies ever. There are many more examples and they are heart-breaking. Make no mistake all these examples are gruesome lynchings with little or no support from lawmakers or law protectors.

Talibanisation of Censor Chief
Be it the attempted butchering of Udta Punjab or the recent 'intercourse' debate of Jab Harry Met Sejal, the nauseating homophobic dilemma of Aligarh, when Lipstick Under My Burkha is adjudged as 'Ladies oriented film' and the many cuts that the filmmakers silently suffer that are never spoken about, the atrocities of Censor Chief Pahlaj Nihalani are never ending. His approach is autocratic, archaic and extremely myopic. Freedom of expression is under a grave danger.

GST and why Cinema is not a Sin industry!
Tickets worth Rs. 100 and below will invite 18% tax and tickets above Rs. 100 will be taxed at 28%. In an industry where the success rate is a paltry 8-10% this is an attempt to strangle the industry. The regional cinema that was either exempted from tax or taxed very less shall have a herculean task at hand. Movies are a source of entertainment for a big percentage of people and they don't consider it as sin. Many Indian parents all across the world make their children watch films so that they can learn the language and understand the culture to some extent. A frivolous approach towards the film industry is most unwarranted. It's a shame on the part of those within the film industry who are continuously taking benefits from their masters while their colleagues are being made to bend on their knees and even then their pleas are not being heard.

Piracy kills
A miniscule 2-3% population of India goes to watch movies in theatres. Piracy is killing the film industry and post GST and with inflated ticket pricing the piracy will flourish even more. People easily watch movies on their mobile phones while travelling. There's no support to control piracy. The film industry is being taxed exorbitantly and then there is no support or security. What's the point?

If you'd like to add more points that why the film industry must say #NotInMyName please do post in the comments section and be constructive and of course be Civil!