Ignorant Intolerance

Did they really write in blood?? I doubt very much. And even if they did, why? Does a petition undergo value addition if it's written in red? But what disturbs me most is that they did many more things than just 'silent protests'.

Ashutosh Gowarikar spent three years of his life making a film. Big deal. He's a film maker. That's his day job. But more than three years, he has also put in his money and probably his heart into it. He read all the history he could lay his hands on. He researched extensively. He even approached the royal family of Amer before he started off with the project just to make sure that he doesn't go wrong anywhere, that he doesn't hurt anyone's sentiments. And only when the film is just about to be released the Karni clan wakes up out of hibernation and ensures that this man suffers heavy losses. First of all, where were they all this time, when the promos were being aired for months? Secondly, which part of the Rajput's "aan-baan-shaan" is being slandered?

Okay so the whole fracas is about Jodha being Akbar's daughter-in-law and not wife. So let's delve into the matter some more. History states that Akbar was married to Amer's princess. And she was known by many names. Historians wrote only about the men in those times because the queens were always in closed quarters. Also, Jehangir, Akbar's son was married to Joda (mind the spelling). But this lady wasn't from Amer. So there is no room for a mix up in the first place.

There is history on one hand and on the other is the world of folklore, myth and legend, which is always more colourful, more fascinating. And is one's making a film, why not make one over folklore. If only history is to be accounted, go ahead, make a documentary. Anarkali wasn't history. But the story was gut wrenching. So the film was a hit. Jodha bai is a widely accepted name for Akbar's queen from Amer. So why can't people live with it and give the film a fair chance at the box office?

I watched the film a few days ago. I wasn't going to. But when they stopped screening it under pressure, that was when I made it a point to go to the theatre and contribute my small bit. I did not like the movie. But I liked some aspects of it.

I want everyone to go and watch this film so that it actually is a hit. That will atleast shut a lot of people up. Moreover, next time some so-called social-activists or cultural groups plan to raise their voices just so they appear on national television, they'll think twice.

I saw how the head of the Karni clan got rogered on NDTV Big Fight. Everyone extended their support to Gowarikar. But to what avail? The film has already suffered.

I also read an article recently by Shashi Tharoor that talks about one of the most externally tolerant civilizations of the world turning internally intolerant. Well, that's a scary thought. But it's happening. My next blog maybe :)