This Article is From Feb 04, 2010

SRK vs Thackerays: Bollywood largely silent

Mumbai: As the Shiv Sena threatens serious consequences for anyone who screens Shah Rukh Khan's new film, Bollywood's response has been limited to Tweets. (Read and Watch: Threatened by Sena, theatres drop SRK posters)

"The best way that you can show support for My Name Is Khan and cock-a-snook at the madness is go watch it fearlessly," tweeted actor-director Farhan Akhtar. Arjun Rampal chipped in with "Shiv Sena is just another bully waiting to be set right." (Watch: Cinema owner: Was asked not to screen film)

On Twitter and all over the country, Indians are asking why the film fraternity isn't coming out more openly to support SRK? There's no sign of a formal rebuttal issued on behalf of Bollywood.

Amitabh Bachchan, in fact, is planning a screening of his film Rann for Bal Thackeray. In his blog, Bachchan says: Balasaheb calls. "I want to see this film. Come and show it to me! You have not been to see me for a long time!" I assure him I shall arrange a projection in his house... He cannot travel out due to his frail condition, but the fire in him still burns." (Sena attacks SRK, Big B praises Thackeray)

The inability to take on the Sena isn't new. Through the years, Bollywood has capitulated repeatedly to the Thackerays and their Sena, accepting and often choosing to reinforce the notion of the Thackerays as an extra-Constitutional authority.

In 1993, when Sanjay Dutt was arrested for his alleged role in the Bombay blasts, he was released from jail only because Bal Thackeray chose to help Sanjay's father, Sunil Dutt, who was a Congressman.

In 2002, the Sena "helped" Manisha Koirala when she complained to Bal Thackeray about a director who used a body double to portray Koirala in steamy scenes. Several screenings of the film were disrupted by Shiv Sainiks.

In 2008, it was the Bachchans who faced the wrath of another Thackeray, Raj, when Jaya Bachchan at a film event said she would speak in Hindi and not Marathi. Protests by Raj's men were so vicious that Bachchan issued a formal apology to Thackeray.

And last year, Raj got another public apology - this time from director-producer Karan Johar for using "Bombay" instead of "Mumbai" in his film, Wake Up, Sid. (Read: Karan Johar apologises to Raj Thackeray)

With crores of rupees at stake in their new releases, producers and directors say they cannot afford to take the moral high ground. If an apology will help keep the Sena at bay, it's a small price to pay, they argue.

Not everyone agrees. Actor Shabana Azmi's film, Fire, could not screen in the city because of its lesbian love story. "I think it's extremely important for all, not only just artists but civil society to get up and say that they are not going to accept this kind of extra-Constitutional authority,'' says Azmi.
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