About time: Bollywood takes a stand for Pakistani artists

Slams Shiv Sena’s antics and expresses will to embrace counterparts with open arms.

MUMBAI:

Numerous Bollywood celebrities have come out in support of Pakistani artists being targeted by Shiv Sena, asserting that art and creativity shouldn’t be stifled.

A partner in the ruling alliance in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena forced cancellation of Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali’s concert. The Sena activists also said they wouldn’t allow any Pakistani actor, cricketer or performer to step on Maharashtra’s soil.



Reacting to the threat, many Bollywood celebrities who were present at the premiere of the stage musical, The Beauty and The Beast, said arts and culture should be kept away from politics.

Film director Anurag Basu said, “We don’t know the kind of agenda or reason or pattern behind it. There were some films which released, so where were they at that time? They’ll fall silent again after a year, there is no consistency.”

Basu further added that this has nothing to do with art and artists. Bollywood has never got affected with this till now and never will. “The ethos of India and Bollywood is very strong, which nobody can shatter. And this binds together the whole country. When we go to watch a film in the theatre, you don’t think if the person sitting beside you is a Hindu or a Pakistani.”

Bajrangi Bhaijaan film director Kabir Khan said, “I feel that arts and culture should be kept away from politics. Politics is at its place and culture exchange is at its place and above politics. There are numerous actors, singers and performers from Pakistan in our industry. They are a crucial component and they should be allowed to continue being a part of it.”

Actor Emraan Hashmi said,” There should not be any bounds on creativity. We see numerous international stars performing and there shouldn’t be any bounds to that. Creativity shouldn’t be stifled, everyone should be there to express.”

According to actor Soha Ali Khan, all that is happening with Pakistani performers is not what India stands for. “As an artist, as a citizen of the country, I consider it wrong. It’s not what India stands for and that’s not what films and art stand for. So, along with all the authors who’re giving back their awards, so that’s what we need to do.”

Lyricist-singer Swanand Kirkire said, “Shiv Sena has a certain viewpoint and I don’t agree to it. Art is the only medium through which we know about the culture of other places. People grow more when there is cultural exchange. It’s just what a party is saying, not what the country says. If it was what the country said, then these artists wouldn’t have been called here. People want to listen to Ghulam Ali.”



Actor Nimrat Kaur of Homeland fame believes that in a free world, the pleasure of being an artist is that you can perform anywhere and reach out to people anywhere.” I come from a democratic bent and I don’t endorse any sort of inhibition on artist being able to perform anywhere. So it is very sad to hear this in any part of the world.” IANS

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2015.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.