By P Mohan Chandran
Have you ever sat in a movie theatre, popcorn in hand, waiting for the opening credits of the latest blockbuster only to be blindsided by a crude and distorted portrayal of your cherished religious epics and deities? Have you ever wondered why the sacred narratives, which have been passed down through generations, are suddenly being mutilated beyond recognition in the name of entertainment?
Welcome to the burgeoning era of Bollywood's religious epics distortion.
In recent years, a new trend has emerged in the Indian film industry: the adulteration of our revered epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. It appears to be an open season for filmmakers to twist, manipulate, and even insult the spiritual scriptures and symbols we hold dear. From the controversial portrayal in movies like Adipurush to countless others, the lines between creative liberty and religious insensitivity have become worryingly blurred.
But why should we be concerned?
This is not just about being disgruntled over a movie. It's about safeguarding the ethos of the Sanatana Dharma and protecting the sentiments of billions of Hindus in India and around the globe. It's about upholding the respect and reverence that our religious scriptures and epics deserve. And most importantly, it's about ensuring that the concept of 'secularism' is neither compromised nor weaponized for vested interests.
Secularism in India is intended to promote equality among religions. However, there seems to be a deliberate distortion of this principle, especially when it comes to the representation of Hinduism in Indian cinema. Sadly, the distortion doesn't come with consequences. The absence of punitive action allows the culprits - filmmakers, actors, lyricists - to continue merrily on their path of defamation.
Doesn't this make you wonder: Isn't it high time we institutionalize a mechanism to monitor and penalize these misdemeanors?
Enter the proposed "Indian Ethics Committee." This regulatory body, functioning under the "Ministry of Culture & Religion," could serve as a beacon of justice for the aggrieved. A platform where any individual, feeling that a film has unfairly represented their religion or community, could register their complaints.
Once a complaint is filed, the committee would investigate, holding filmmakers, actors, dialogue writers, lyricists, et al., accountable for their actions. If found guilty, the wrongdoers could face a lifetime ban from their respective fields. Draconian? Perhaps. But isn't it necessary to deter the reckless defamation of our religious sanctity?
In a country where cinema is synonymous with culture, the impact of these distorted portrayals can be far-reaching. The danger lies not just in offending sentiments but also in propagating misconceptions about Hinduism, thereby sowing seeds of religious discord.
What does this mean for us as a society? As movie-goers, should we be passive consumers, digesting everything thrown at us? Or should we raise our voices, demanding respect for our religious heritage and the rich tapestry of our epics?
Just ponder on this: What will it take for us to break our silence? When will we rise and call for a change? Isn't it time for a revolution to restore respect to our epics?
Remember, the world is not destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Which side of history do you want to stand on?
© 2023. P Mohan Chandran. All Rights Reserved.
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