On Sena seeking to put Shah Rukh 'Pakistan' Khan in his place
Monday, February 01, 2010
Commentary
Shah Rukh Khan may find out that taking up the cause of Pakistan, which has fought 4 wars with India, and is widely believed to be a major hub of Islamic Terrorism against India and the western world may serve him well in overseas in parts but may not be the best strategy for him in India, including Maharashtra which saw trained Pakistanis like Ajmal Qasab trying to breach in and create terror over Mumbai not too long ago on 26/11.
Yesterday, Shiv Sena activists tore down Shahrukh Khan-Karan Johar film 'My Name Is Khan's' posters in Kandivili and Thane and in Nagpur warned multiplexes to not screen Khan's films in Maharashtra anymore. Today the same was reported in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
Khan had said last week that Pakistan, who had fought 4 wars against India albeit unsuccesfully, and is said to be housing various not-so-Mahatma Gandhisque 'Dawood Ibrahim' and 'Osama Bin Laden', was infact a 'great neighbor to have' and expressed his displeasure over Pakistanis not being in his team Knight Riders of IPL. "[also] my family is from Pakistan, " he then said adding a different angle to it letting it roll. Though it is unclear what he means since Pakistan only came into existence after 1947 conflict over the subcontinent and Khan's father chose to seek refuge in the Indian capital of Delhi instead of Islamabad in Pakistan. At that point Pakistan had opted for an Islamic constitution, calling itself Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Nonetheless, Khan has long tried to equate the two countries on an even footing, despite their different ways of operating and capabilities, all while remaining in India. Not questioning for example why despite after 60+ years, same as India, Pakistan couldn't develop its own systems, its own IPL or a relevant film industry for that matter.
Khan seemed to backtrack off his remarks few days ago but by then it was too late. The Sena didn't care and did not take to this issue kindly. Sainiks went on a rampage attacking malls and multiplexes showing his name. Said spokesman of the Shiv Sena Sanjay Raut, "If Shahrukh [khan] wants Pakistani players to play here, he should go to Karachi and Islamabad to play with them," he said flat out.
Khan's next film 'My Name is Khan' follows Johar's Qurbaan on a similar topic. And is said to be another film sympathetic to the 'global muslim perspective' after 9/11. Both films star muslims and have left many outside getting increasingly wary of Bollywood pointing out that the action by these Khans end up then confirming the very suspicion and charges they supposedly seek to disprove. By undermining the premise of secularism, through the globalizing of muslim identity instead of nationalizing it. The argument is that Khans who travel the world on Hindustani passports should be making films on 26/11 in India or on Kashmiri Hindus battling in the Kashmir valley, not 9/11 in America or Iran fighting Israel thousands of kilometers away.
Driving home the point in less academic manner, some sainiks then brought large posters outside his house (called 'Mannat' in Bandra) of Airplanes looking like American airlines which muslim terrorists had hijacked to attack America on 9/11 with, with passenger name 'Shah Rukh Khan' written on the poster.
Then in light of Khan sympathizing with Pakistan, the Sena sarcastically promised to sympathize with him even more so and fly him directly to Pakistan instead.
Thane Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had at first announced that no film of Khan would be screened in the district. Later it turned into no Khan film to be screened in all of Maharashtra.
About 20 Muslim supporters of the actor in Delhi however then came in and voiced in support of the actor. The problem however is that if it turns into a Hindu-vs-Muslim issue, that is guaranteed to restrict the movie and Khan's future films even further. Shahrukh Khan has not had a release in India since 2008 and though billed a #1 superstar in media at times, has never had a recordgrossing blockbuster in India. Even if MNIK were to have released controversy-free it would have likely been beaten by a number of other Hindi films by the year's end. The Pakistan issue almost ensures it will be.
Maharashtra forms nearly 30-40% of the national box office revenues since majority of the multiplexes for Hindi films are there.
Politically also, Khan's stance has even split the congress party. A few congress party politicians were appealed to cover Khan and his film somewhat but here they too are limited in what they themselves can do since the Hindustan army itself is basically anti-Pakistan. So there's not a lot of political maneuverability left once you invoke Pakistan and head in that direction. Congress's leader-to-be Rahul Gandhi himself has made derogatory remarks about Pakistan every so often.
Bollywood fans vs. Hindu nationalist party
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