Who is the cause for this ‘VISWAROOPAM’ (Universe)?
‘Yathornaabhih Srajate granhate cha yatha
Tathaaksharaat sambhavatiha viswam’ - Mundaka Upanishad.
‘As the spider creates the web out of itself and withdraws unto itself’ from the imperishable comes out the universe’. - It means the creation, creator and the created are one and the same.
The Universe-form is banned!? The actor-director-producer Kamal Hassan (ADP K. Hassan from here on) will not lose much money, but in fact will earn more due to the controversy.
I am sorry, ADP K.Hassan created this mess and he has to withdraw into this mess and from this, will come Vishwaroopam. Someone had a comment in vikatan some time back, that Rajini who in spite of his association with MK and other atheists, had a mind of his own and followed things in a way different to ADP K.Hassan who in the same association always struggled and never was able to rest his mind.
This struggle made him to reach out and has landed him in a mess. However now a lot of reports emerging that there is nothing offensive in the movie, but certain scenes create a projection and there is no denying. It may not be offensive to some in fact majority - because the majority believes in pluralism and doesn't mind certain projections., But are all the five fingers same?
Key questions:
1. If I am docile and bear whatever is thrown at me, doesn't mean others to be and react the same way and manner (all 5 fingers analogy) - Some people albeit minority among minority feel offensive, at least the perception is so and they are acting on it. - Don't they have right to show their protest?
2. If this was caused by Jaya TV license issue, why don't ADP K. Hassan come out open on this? I am sure he would have - wouldn't he?
3. Don't see this as a Cinema/arts - People from a particular sect are making/taking efforts to change the perception - if the majority Hindu population choose not to protest or even lift a finger when someone makes a joke about their Hindu Gods - does it mean the minority should follow the same attitude? - Don't they have rights (democratic) to protest?
4. Have the violated any laws? They have taken legal means to ban the movie... Unlike those who assault Valentine's day and MF Hussain's Hindu bashing arts, they have only taken legal steps... so is this wrong?
5. If an opinion is freedom of expression, is it not the same freedom of expression to say the movie is trying to portray terrorists in certain way? So why stop that?
6. NASA pictures showed the Sethu bridge as an existing sand bridge, but an elected government created an economic policy and planned to destroy a Hindu-faith associated bridge, was it not only a small section of Majority that made efforts to stop it? So in the same way if a small section of minority try and legally ban a movie - should it become an issue?
I am not necessarily saying it is right or wrong - I am saying it is a chance for India to truly introspect on how to manage and evolve the multi-faith without damaging the fabric and protect democracy... Crux of the problem is "People will see what they want to see..." Gandhi (not Rahul) - Babuji tried and he did influence a lot of people, he had to sacrifice a lot in order to change perceptions and bring the society closer... The losses he had were huge and he couldn't change everyone (In fact he ended being on enemy camps for both groups), but his efforts have impact even today and I am one of them. Hey Ram!
So if ADP K.Hassan really wants to engage and debate with the society and do seva to arts and humanity, he has to accept this in merit and not be worried about economic failure but continue his debate. Good Luck Sir... Please continue.
Final question - I infer that from his follow-up statements, it is clear to me that he hasn't realized the magnitude of change required and the cost/efforts to change the perception and bring unity - Does he? and If he reads this blog (Oh yeah!) and if my point clicks in his brain, will he still be up for change?
One needs courage, one need to sacrifice many things to make a change at that level. But as a society we need to introspect to create harmony and humanity.
And to the title... According to the legends, Krishna had to provide divine eyes to see Vishwaroopam - But it turns out Arjuna cried for mercy, as he couldn't withstand the sight. Truth is harsh and one needs to open up to reality! Question self...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteYes, points are valid. Anyone has a right to challenge, via legal means, screening of anything deemed offensive. In this case, however, the Censor Board (supposedly) has already played the role of sanity checks and blanket portrayal of any community.
ReplyDeleteThose who admonish these ban tactics seem to harbour this view.
Personally, I believe to increase more dialogue some 'expression is necessary. It can't be a case where everyone is only allowed to show sugar coated versions as the only way forward.
Exerji,
ReplyDeleteSimilar to inception movie, I had woven quite a few subtle thoughts... I am sure you understand why I support the ban;)
I am of the opinion every individual has a right to say what he wants to say. That is liberty. Censoring his right is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteThe picture is viewed by a set of people and has been approved. Even a Muslim member has signed the certificate.
View the cinema as cinema
Chithappa,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you fully, but my point in the blog is across a few dimensions... However I see this as a good lesson for pseudo-secularists as well as to fellow beings from Islam sect. Coz' after seeing the movie, people from Islam sect will get to know about their own leaders... Hence my support to ban.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteFollowing link contains a brief review I wrote recently having watched the movie. I will also try to cut + paste contents from another social media where I had posted something on similar lines:
http://exerji.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/viswaroopam-a-review/
Cheers
Further comments on the movie - some repetitive from blog in Wordpress
ReplyDeletePlus side:
[1] Appreciable 'efforts' - Tamil Cinema should celebrate Kamal's ambitious take - for a regional language film (though co-made in Hindi) to raise stakes for Indian cinema to great heights, all credits are due
[2] Never before seen/shown empathetic portrayal of Afghanistan, under Taliban's iron fisted rule - the travails of injustice, hapless children, irrevocable punishments for crimes including mistaken treachery etc.
[3] Absence of romantic songs etc. even as a dream sequence
Negatives:
[1] Editing sucks - Kamal, for all his talents etc., should still engage specialists for each job and not do all himself - one feels someone like Shankar or K S Ravikumar, working in tandem with a good editor, would have done a far better job. The editor here seems to have gone a bit soft, either out of reverence to "Kamal Sir" or due to inexperience, either of which does a severe disservice
(2) Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Music: This isn't a 'play dough' movie for them to experiment whether they can do scores for war/violent scenes. Compared to the riveting score of Ilayaraja in Hey Ram or A R Rahman's haunting ones in Roja, the background score here is at best tolerable and at worst amateurish. Can't forgive them enough for childish score for certain scenes - e.g. where a villain character would pick up a mobile in grave trepidation. Songs are ok.
(3) Kamal's refusal to acknowledge that younger Tamil Brahmins have moved on a lot, when it comes to lingo: There's nothing wrong in introducing a character or two as Tamil Brahmins, and even let them speak in their lingo. But, it should blend really well with the context, as in Kameshwaran/ Tripurasundari of "Michael Madana Kama Rajan"! Agreed that Non Resident TamBrams retain their lingo and certain cultural nuances more than those who still reside in TN. But, to have it spoken in the usual screeching pitch of a dubbing artiste, for an actress who pops her eyes out in perpetual hysteria, is utterly irksome. Someone who says "பின் தூங்கி முன் எழ வேண்டாம்" in chaste Tamil is quite likely to have let go of her Brahmin Lingo, of her own accord. This results in Kamal's portrayal of 'Day In Life Of' Afghani Pushto/Urdu/Arabic speaking populace being more contemporary and accurate (Afghanis can differ though!) than his 'idea of Tamil Brahmin', a community he has distanced himself from, with a vengeance, for all his adult life. In Dasavatharam, there's a scene where, just for some cheap rhyming, when Asin would say "ஐயோ ஷௌசாலயம்" pointing to toilet in the train, agnostic Kamal would retort with irreverence, "ஏதோ ஒரு ஆலயம் தானே?". Nearly 99.99% TamBrams would want to shout from rooftops, including grannies, "Kamal.. sorry, we actually called that கக்கூஸ் since times immemorial before the educated ones, across all castes, asked us to switch to Latrine, Lavatory, Toilet and now Restrooms ! More than any caricaturing objections (which Tamil directors have as a birthright - he alone can't be denied), it's the plain irritation of it that one has objections to. A wholly unnecessary distraction in the narrative. Quite a few dialogues either get lost or lose their gravity in this kiddish, "unutterable boll*cks" rendering of Tamil, an assault on all Tamil loving ears - Brahmins' included.
[4] Not equally balanced for the whole duration: The Afghanistan shots are well crafted, but the US ones do lack the panache. Almost as if Kamal and crew had spent lion's share of budget and suddenly realised only 2 days are left, with 2 bags of peanuts to live on, in NY, to finish last 20% of movie.
Though it may seem like negatives are lot more than positives, it's not the case. The movie is certainly worth a watch, for full money, once at least, in a cinema near you. But, it's not a Hey Ram or Anbe Sivam to deserve repeat viewings to relish profound truths.
Hi:
ReplyDeleteThe link to review on the blog referred (thought that comment was posted prior to the verbose one!) is
http://exerji.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/viswaroopam-a-review/