Governments must not let politics hold arts hostage

Kannada activists have called for a ban on Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Kaala

Rajinikanth’s latest movie Kaala will hit theatres on June 7, and before its release, the movie has run into several controversies. Pro-Kannada activists in Karnataka want the movie not to be released in the state because Rajinikanth had said that the Centre should implement the Supreme Court order to constitute a Cauvery Management Board, at the earliest. This stand against Kaala is supported by Sa Ra Govindu, the president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, which has said the movie will not be shown in Karnataka.

Similarly, Rajinikanth’s comments on the Thoothukudi violence where he said that a few anti-social elements had infiltrated the protests leading to attacks on police, destruction of property, etc, didn’t go down well with some Tamil ‘activists’ who have asked that Kaala be boycotted. It is not just Rajini movies. Last year pro-Kannada activists called for a ban on the release of Bahubali 2: The conclusion. The grouse was that Tamil actor Satyaraj, who plays a role in the movie, a decade ago had made statements perceived to be against Karnataka’s interests in the Cauvery dispute. Satyaraj was made to issue a grovelling apology before the movie could be released in the state.

Violent protests and enforced boycotts because of an artist’s ideological or political positions are reprehensible. This is not limited to a single movie, actor or a state. In the name of regional pride based on language, ethnicity, caste, class or religion, fringe elements are dictating choices for the silent majority. Nothing can prevent them from choosing not to watch a particular movie because they disagree with the actor’s politics. However, this doesn’t give them the right to force this choice on others, especially with a threat of implied violence. It doesn’t help that pusillanimous administrations usually choose to keep quiet for political gains instead of reining in such fringe elements. Governments should ensure that art isn’t held hostage by politics.