Solipsism of Indian Film Industry

We as a country celebrate hypocrisy - is film industry, the only industry in the country, who has the moral standing to judge or question freedom of speech in the country? Yes, there are huge investments riding on each project in film industry, but are other industries any different?

In any industry, there are regulations to ensure sufficient checks and balances are in place, to encourage healthy competition and fair participation – and that no one is given an opportunity to subvert facts or oversell and dupe the citizens. When it is the same consumer market, why film industry is, or for that matter art or literature – which are commercially put up for sale, not brought under the ambit of Indian Consumer Protection Act, 1986? It is the money of an average Indian that is spent on an excellent or dubious product or movie or art or book/biography (literature) – and government is duty bound to protect the interest of the citizens.

When movies, enjoy tax subsidies, without any valid reason I wonder, why other industries are silently suffering this step-motherly treatment by the government. When only one industry can run away claiming to be the torch bearer - standing up for freedom of speech and lobby/bully for subsidies/unwarranted run in the market, others ought to learn from them.

We as consumers, are bestowing upon this industry – with significant soft power: Allow me to list few examples highlighting the dichotomy. One of the erstwhile film personality, nudging himself out of redundancy, with education little beyond higher school – talks about Kashmir Dispute and offers a solution, and our media – picks it up as an informed opinion. Is this freedom of speech or retardedness?

There is another personality, who could not manage time, to complete graduation – calls our country regressive – and we discuss about it. There are many countries on our planet, which will stand out as regressive, and I am sure he/she can afford to make a trip or two to understand reality.

Another personality, who spent better part of his/her life editing magazines covering movie gossips, offered a ridiculous idea – Let’s separate Mumbai from Maharashtra as a separate state for better administration. With multiple failed marriages, another personality offers marriage advice. The list goes on.

Let us continue to celebrate hypocrisy – When was the last time someone from the film industry raised a voice against the ban of: The Book – Reminiscences of the Nehru Age by M.O. Mathai, or advertising alcohol; or against reservations in government jobs; or minority appeasement policies. Why was India not regressive to them then?

We as a nation, as consumer – should not make an imbecile choice, but an informed one. Choice is and should always be ours.

- Abhijith Jayanthi