Message Of The Genie | Editor's Pen

Hi Friends,

 

Recently Paresh Rawal’s Oh My God raised some question. Fortunately we didn’t see any protest against the movie. Even if there were a few, they were conveniently ignored. We were happy. Apt questions were raised and fanatics had nothing to offer. Finally some sensibility. However, Student Of The Year faced wrath and petition of some random person in some random city. He somehow felt offended by the use of word Radha with modern materialistic lingo and though of filing a petition on behalf of all followers. Epic facepalm to say the least.

 

Religion has been an integral part of cinema. Just like other mediums of art, even cinema like to see religion in different shades. In Stanley Kramer’s Inherit The Wind, in the last scene we can see Spencer Tracy holding and trying to balance Bible and Origin Of Species in his hands. This sums it up all. The message is that be open to ideas. Following a religion doesn’t mean that one should close himself in a closet. One should, in fact, look beyond what Holy Books tell in letters and try to understand the essence, not the words.

 

Films have done a fairly good job in handling such topics. Movies made in Middle East in recent times have raised the need to reinterpret religion to be more inclusive, especially keeping women-folk in mind. In a conservative structure existing there, efforts deserve to be lauded. Unfortunately, in India we are moving towards dark ages. Every time you hear a word about religion on screen and there are ten organizations to apply their code of law. Unfortunate. Can we do anything about it?

 

Regards

Sujoy