Tag: Laal Singh Chaddha

Vivek Agnihotri Slams Aamir

Vivek Agnihotri Slams Aamir, Kiara’s New Ad

By LokMarg

After facing backlash over his film ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, superstar Aamir Khan has once again found himself at the receiving end of social media trolls. This time he is receiving flak online for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through his latest commercial with actress Kiara Advani.

The commercial is for AU Small Finance Bank. It shows Aamir and Kiara as newlyweds trying to change traditions as the groom, Aamir, movies to the bride, Kiara’s house after their wedding to take care of her ailing father. Based on the theme of changing traditions, Aamir and Kiara question banking traditions with their advertisement.
However, the particular advertisement did not go down well with a section of social media users. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, too, slammed the ad.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “I just fail to understand since when Banks have become responsible for changing social & religious traditions? I think@aubankindia should do activism by changing the corrupt banking system. Aisi bakwaas karte hain fir kehte hain Hindus are trolling. Idiots(they do nonsense like these and then say Hindus are trolling).”

Many even claimed on Twitter that they were closing their accounts at the bank in protest.

During the release of Aamir’s ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ in August, some Twitter users went through the archives and dug up his controversial “India’s growing intolerance” statement and circulated it on the micro-blogging site.

Talking about the controversial statement in question, in 2015, Aamir said in an interview, “Our country is very tolerant, but there are people who spread ill will”. His wife Kiran Rao also made headlines for saying that she considered leaving the country for the safety of their children.

Reacting to the particular interview, Twitter users put up posts using hashtags such as #BoycottLaalSinghChaddha and #Boycottaamirkhan. The Trolls also dug up when Aamir met Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdogan while he was shooting for Laal Singh Chaddha there. Netizens were unhappy with the meeting as happened in the backdrop of Turkey’s increasing anti-India and pro-Pakistan stand.

Aamir literally requested people to watch his film after he received flak.

“That Boycott Bollywood… Boycott Aamir Khan… Boycott Laal Singh Chaddha… I feel sad also because a lot of people who are saying this in their hearts believe I am someone who doesn’t like India… In their hearts, they believe that… And that’s quite untrue. I really love the country… That’s how I am. It is rather unfortunate that some people feel that way. I want to assure everyone that it’s not the case so please don’t boycott my films, please watch my films,” Aamir had said. (ANI)

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Bollywood filmmaker

‘Boycott Or Cancel Culture is The Coronavirus of Bollywood’

By LokMarg

Pankaj Narayan, a producer and filmmaker in Mumbai, tells LokMarg that Bollywood filmmakers are facing a crisis which is driven by a political ideology

Film industry is going through hard times. It has witnessed a downward phase in the past too but this time the crisis is qualitatively different because it is primarily a political one. The Boycott Brigade is just one dimension of this crisis.

When a small producer like me decides to make a film, our first brief is like- kya chal raha hai aajkal? Now talking of the trend, one cannot predict what would click. This is the age of going ‘viral’, not hit. For example, a Bhojpuri film starring Khesari Lal Yadav Rowdy Daroga has better box office collections than Aamir Khan’s Lal Singh Chaddha and Akshay Kumar’s Raksha Bandhan.

Let me share a recent incident. I had drawn the basic layout for a movie which would be titled Ravan Ki Love Story. As the producer of this project, I pitched for Nawazuddin in the lead role and discussed it with one of my prospective financiers. The financier, after listening to all the details, was apprehensive to come on board. He said: “First, the title of this movie may trigger a controversy and second, on top of that you have Nawaz (a Muslim) in the lead role. What do you want? To get my bones broken?”

I can cite many such incidents where you cannot state a specific reason for films being aborted, tanking on box office or any content going viral. As far as I understand, just three types of content is getting traction: regional vulgar content, ultra-nationalist theme and religious content. You can easily understand the reason behind the success of The Kashmir Files. It was supported by the political establishment. Same applies to the films that were doomed at the box office. They were boycotted. Even Akshay Kumar was boycotted when they trolled him calling Canada Kumar.

ALSO READ: ‘Those Upset With Kaali Poster Know Little About Divinity’

Filmmakers who do not subscribe to these viral content, suffer. The problem is essentially political because this is the first time ideological differences have seeped into a micro level. Not only films, in journalism or any other socially responsible profession, we can see this binary. This divided viewer and reader has made the content creation risky.

A cinematic content is appreciated or criticised only when one gets to see that work. Nowadays viewers are first fed with a political perception through propaganda, then they resort to cancel culture etc over a flimsy issue. This boycott culture is proving to be the Coronavirus of the film industry. I have been making a remake of devotional songs to survive. Same is with many other creators. We are not sure what a lyricist would offer. How much return would it give? The problem is same even with big banners like Yashraj, etc. Only the size and scale are different.

Yashraj Films may give five flops back to back and still survive. The smaller producers are destined to be doomed. Startups will also struggle. The hidden fallout of this political crisis and boycott culture is the untimely and silent death of new talent and enterprises, for the lack of ‘oxygen’. Content is not going to save them because there are no takers and financers.

As told to Abhishek Srivastava

‘Boycott Call Against Aamir is Part of a Malicious Agenda’

By LokMarg

Saral Singh, a movie buff in Lucknow, feels films are essentially for entertainment and he will not allow agenda-driven boycott calls to guide his choice of movies

Movies are a stress-buster for me. Having laboured through the week in office, meeting targets and what not, I look forward to watch the latest releases on large screen every weekend. That is my way to recharge my batteries for the week ahead. This week, I look forward to watching the much talked about, Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha.

Yes, I am aware of the boycott calls against the movie on social media. But if you examine the basis for these calls, you will find them driven by a malicious agenda against one of the best movie actors of our times. To begin with, Aamir’s critics says that he has ridiculed Hindu beliefs and deities in his movies like PK. I have watched PK, and I did not find a single instance which could be found derogatory to my religion. The movie is against blind faith and dubious babas making fools of commoners. Period.

Second, some of Aamir Khan’s old statements are being dug out to label him ‘anti-national’ – a new charge coined for anyone who does not agree with hardcore nationalism. I have seen those clips on Twitter. I did not find any of them objectionable! As far as I can make out, he was expressing his concerns, just like any other person, over a prevalent issue! Just because he has an opinion which does not suit yours, will he be vulnerable to a smear campaign? Ridiculous.

Singh says old statements by Aamir Khan (inset) are being dug out and shared out of context

It has become easy to dig out old statements of a celebrity with the help of Google Baba, post them out of context on social media, and then issue a call for his or her boycott. Are we so thin-skinned and our sentiments so weak that we get hurt by personal opinions of others? We are getting offended even by humorous scenes in a work of fiction!

ALSO READ: ‘Why I Support the Call to #BoycottLaalSinghChaddha’

Then there are some people who are calling Laal Singh Chaddha an extension of Aamir’s role in PK or 3 Idiots. While I haven’t watched the movie to give a verdict on it, I want to ask them: So What? Every actor has a set of typical actions which get reflected in all his roles. Big deal? Another charge is the movie being a remake, as if this is the first time a remake has been made in Bollywood. Kuch bhi (any ruse)!

I have a simple advice for people who enjoy cinema: Do not fall prey to any agenda-driven boycott calls, and watch the movie of your choice. Do not let social media guide your choices. These are probably the best time for cinema lovers. So much new, creative content is being dished out, thanks to OTT platforms and ‘South’ movie makers’, that cinema buffs are spoiled for choice. As a movie-lover I would rather celebrate such good times than indulge into petty politics. Movies are entertainment, entertainment and entertainment… not a boxing ring to settle scores.

As told to Rajat Rai

‘Why I Support The Call To #BoycottLaalSinghChaddha’

By LokMarg

Shobhamoti Day, a resident of greater Noida West and a movie buff, explains why she is not going to watch Laal Singh Chaddha

There is a reason why #BoycottLaalSinghChaddha has been trending on social media of late. There is anger among movie-lovers against Aamir Khan and his public posturing, either through his movies or speeches on various TV programmes. Seemingly, Aamir has projected himself to be a forward-looking, secular being who is taking up social causes but the reality is far from it. And his time is up.

I will only raise two instances here to prove my point. First, if you remember his statement a few years back where he said the intolerance in India was growing and he was alarmed by several incidents. During that time there was a wave of similar statements by political leaders and Left intelligentsia.

Many people saw it as a smear campaign against the BJP which was the ruling party in power then. However, Aamir wanted to ride the ongoing wave and gain traction, which many film stars do to stay in news. So, he joined the so called ‘secular bandwagon’ which sought to project India as an Islamophobic nation. Very smartly, he attributed this view to his now estranged wife, a Hindu.

Now, when the tide has turned and his own movie is facing boycott calls, he has changed tack. Aamir is now saying he loves his country. This is hunting with the hounds and running with the hare.

ALSO READ: ‘Why Waste Time On A Remake, When Original Is Available’

The second point: In several of his movies, he has ridiculed Hindu beliefs and deities. Although he was not the director of these movies, everybody in filmdom knows Aamir has a big say in most movie sequences where is he acting. When he was confronted about his stand on Hindu sentiments, the superstar defended it by saying he was only trying to expose the fallacies of the religion.

I want to ask him if he has similar motives about other religions too. All religions have certain oppressive and obsolete practices. Take for example, some Islamic medieval practices like triple talaq, female genital mutilation, polygamy etc. I have never heard Mr Aamir Social Worker Khan to raise his voice against these practices, either in any of his movies or public speeches. Are all those moral platitudes restricted to the majority community only?

Of course, Aamir Khan is entitled to his opinion and choice. We too have the choice to watch or boycott his film. Simple. In a modern world, banning a book or movie is not the answer; if the readers and audience choose to reject them, the message is delivered. And it will set an example for others in the Hinduphobic club too. Freedom of expression and freedom of choice is not a one-way street.

During one of the episodes in ‘Satyamev Jayate’ Aamir Khan had said something like: “One glass of milk poured on a religious idol costs ₹20. If the same is offered to poor children, it will feed them with nutrition.” I completely agree with Mr Khan on this score. One movie ticket at a multiplex costs me ₹500. I will save that money to provide a few meals to the poor.

As told to Deepti Sharma