Page 59 - English Tehelka Issue 1&2

column

Patriotism? Let cinema

hall owners decide

The much-talked about issue of the national anthem playing in
Being You cinema halls is once again on the forefront as our patriotism now
lies in the hands of cinema owners
Yashica
Jalhotra

he national anthem has been people including elderly and kids when
The writer, currently the talk of the town for quite my phone rang displaying the name of
Editor (Digital Media), sometime. On November the caller saved in my phone as “don’t
is noted for giving witty 30, 2016, the Supreme Court pick”.
tips on current issues, T made it mandatory to play Ankit was calling as he had gone
lifestyle, health, love, the anthem in cinema halls before the through SC’s national anthem ruling
parenting, behaviour, screening of films, saying that those and wanted me to listen to arguments
inner-self, spirituality, present must “stand up in respect” that he wanted me to publish. But as my
beliefs,relationships till the anthem ended. The reason mobile suggested “don’t pick”, I didn’t
and everything else behind this order as given by the apex take the call until my colleague was
under the sun. court was to “instil within one a sense obviously irritated with my continuous
of committed patriotism and
nationalism.” Some cinema
The bench of Justices Dipak Misra
and Amitava Roy said it was time owners said they
people expressed their “love for the were in a tight
motherland.”
“People must feel this is my country. spot many times
This is my motherland. Who are you?
You are an Indian first. In other coun- when some people • matter of choice So, now cinema owners have the authority to decide when to instil love for the nation in people?
tries, you respect their restrictions. got agitated
In India, you do not want any restric-
tions?” Justice Misra had remarked. seeing someone route of pirated CDs. that should a cinema hall choose to theatre owners said they would like
“...people should feel that they live in not standing For me, the judgment was a play the national anthem, it shall be to continue playing the national
a nation and show respect to the boon. Thanks to the judges, in compulsory for every person in the anthem.
national anthem and the national flag,” during the anthem order to “stand up in respect” for audience to stand in respect unless So now cinema owners have the
he said. the nation, I became attentive, in they are entitled to exemption on authority to decide when to instil
‘Oh C’mon! Do we really need forced cinemas at least. The decision gave account of disability. love for the nation in people?
patriotism?’ was my first thought after ringtone of “saare jahan se achha…hindu- me a reason to stand before I go on So, does that mean that now Here goes my reverie of stand-
the decision came. We in the twenty- stan hamara”. my munching spree for the next cinema owners will decide when I ing in a queue to buy a ticket for the
first century cant be forced to listen to We Indians have a very strange habit three hours. need to bring my attentiveness back latest blockbuster and get to know
our national anthem to feel deep love, of doing what we are told not to do. I was overwhelmed by love for in theatres? The current order is that patriotism is free with every
respect and responsibility towards the The apex court wanted to instil patriot- my motherland until the judges perplexing for me. ticket.
nation. ism in us but going by habit, many of decided to give a revised judg- The decision has again got a
Going through this unique news my friends exchanged a lot of ideas ment on January 9 this year. While mixed response from theatre own- Yashica Jalhotra is very happy
2016, I had perfect fodder ready for my on how to go against the decision. So modifying its earlier order, the ers. Some of them welcomed the after the apex court’s decision as
daydreaming routine in office. After all, the result was that I was the only one SC made playing of the national judgment saying that many times she can now choose the theatre
who wanted to work if there was such from my group going to the movies anthem in cinema halls optional. they faced uncomfortable situa- according to her patriotic mood of
big news out there to gossip about. So, throughout last year. To not indulge However, the twist came when the tions when some people would get the day.
here I was in my reverie, sitting in the in forced patriotism, my friends boy- court gave control in the hands of agitated seeing someone not stand-
middle row of a cinema hall filled with cotted cinemas altogether and took the cinema owners. The bench clarified ing during the anthem. Some other letters@tehelka.com

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