Cinema used to be a platform for filmmakers to bridge the gap between fiction and reality, but it’s not anymore. Thanks to the constant abuse of creativity, cinema nowadays has become an easy target for bullies. Filmmakers have lost the creative freedom to tread uncharted territories for the simple reason that they fear the repercussions. An increasing number of filmmakers are therefore forced to resort to very common subjects such as love and family drama, but not something out-of-the-box.
In the wake of protest against films such as Thalaivaa, Vishwaroopam, it makes me wonder is there any freedom to creatively express left with filmmakers at all. Today, most protest against films in the country has strong political aspirations. For instance, not allowing the release of Telugu films Yevadu and Attarintiki Daaredhi is one of the best examples. It’s a cheap tactic to target a filmmaker and his product, but unfortunately we like being cheap, don’t we?
From what I understand, Ram Charan and Pawan Kalyan are being targeted by an X group (let’s not take names) because they are related to Chiranjeevi, who does not support the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Since these group members can’t stop Chiru, they pick his son and brother in an effort to break him emotionally. I seriously don’t understand how does it matter or will have any effect on Chiru.
Logically speaking, Ram Charan and Pawan Kalyan have nothing to lose if their films are stopped from releasing because they are already paid for their work. It is the producer who gets heavily affected as a film involving a star actor will run into crores. So not allowing the release of a film featuring these actors will hardly have any effect on Chiranjeevi. By stopping, you’re only robbing a producer of his freedom to creatively express.
There are only two religions in India, according to me, and those are cinema and politics. We all know what happens when two religions are pit against each other. Despite knowing that, we mix cinema and politics only to make things worse.
With the current scenario, it’s extremely difficult to make a film on any controversial topic, let alone making it entertaining. No wonder filmmakers are settling with comedy films instead of trying something different. It’s very simple because they don’t want to earn the wrath of any group, especially any political group.
Another growing concern for filmmakers is even attempting to make a film on a true incident, person or events. The Madras Café incident has certainly piqued my interest and I still don’t understand how a film cleared by censor board can be banned. I mean is censor board not the body to take a final decision on whether to release or ban a film. How can government even allow a group to protest after a film has been cleared by a certifying body?
If we continue allowing unknown groups to protest against films, then it’s high time we close the censor board and let these ‘so called’ groups to watch a film and decide whether it can release or not. This is only because the censor board is not being given the due respect it deserves.
Let’s watch a film sans regional and cultural attachments. In essence, let’s watch a film as a film; for the sheer joy of entertainment.
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