Coimbatore : Over 100 filmmakers, most of them makers of independent films, made an appeal to the public last week to vote the current BJP government out of power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The film makers have all come together under a common umbrella called ‘Save Democracy.'
Coimbatore : Over 100 filmmakers, most of them makers of independent films, made an appeal to the public last week to vote the current BJP government out of power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The film makers have all come together under a common umbrella called ‘Save Democracy.'
The statement posted on the website www.artistunite.com urged the public to vote for a Government that respects the Constitution of India, protects freedom of speech and expression, and refrains from all kinds of censorship. "Our country is going through the most testing times ever.
Though culturally vivid and geographically diverse, we have always stayed united. As a nation. It has indeed been a great feeling to be a citizen of this wonderful country. But, all of that is at stake now. Fascism threatens to strike us hard with all its might if we don't choose wisely in the coming Lok Sabha elections," reiterated the statement on the need to vote BJP out of power at the Centre.
The film makers who have signed the statement included Vetrimaran, Pa.Ranjith (who signed it a day later), Gopi Nainar, Leena Manimekalai , Sanalkumar Sasidharan, Sudevan, Bina Paul and Anjali Monteiro among others.
In a tele conversation with SimpliCity, Gopi Nainar, Director shared his thoughts on why he signed the statement on the importance of democracy and the need for artists, writers and people alike to come forward and raise their voices against any form of repression.
"This initiative was started by Sanal Sasidharan and I felt it is really important at this point in time. A society in which a woman is sexually harassed should automatically arise against such atrocity. Sexual harassment is nothing but a form of suppression. People in positions should raise questions and should raise voices against a Government which fails to protect its women, children and Dalits. There is no social justice prevailing now. Women are harassed, Dalits are oppressed and even children are not spared. The Government has failed on all these fronts," slammed Gopi in a visibly upset tone.
" Even in movies we cannot have scenes where animals are tortured because there are organisations which will fight for animal welfare. But as far as women are concerned, no one cares about rape scenes. No actress will be comfortable acting in such scenes but most of us do not care about it. This is how women are treated. Though it is not linked to the Government directly, if we had stringent laws, women will also be treated fairly," lamented Gopi.
"The recent Pollachi incident shook me to the core. I could not listen to the audio for more than three seconds. I have a daughter at home. The government failed to take proper action and that saddens me. Even on other fronts, anyone raising their voice against the Government are silenced in one way or the other. There is no freedom of expression. Not only the directors but more artists, writers and even the common public should show their dissent and vote responsibly," he reiterated.
The statement by the film makers reads as follows:
"Our country is going through the most testing times ever. Though culturally vivid and geographically diverse, we have always stayed united as a nation. It has indeed been a great feeling to be a citizen of this wonderful country.
But all that is at stake now.
Fascism threatens to strike us hard with all its might if we don’t choose wisely in the coming Lok Sabha election. Period.
As we all know, ever since the BJP came to power in 2014, things have changed. And only for the worse. A country polarized along religious lines isn’t the India we have known. Besides, the BJP and its allies have failed miserably in keeping their election promises. They are now using mob lynching and cow vigilantism to split the country communally.
Marginalizing Dalits and Muslims is the name of the game. They are spreading their hate campaigns with the help of the internet and social media. Patriotism is their trump card. Any individual or institution that raises the slightest dissent is labelled ‘anti-national.’ ‘Patriotism’ is how they grow their vote bank. Let us not forget that some of our eminent writers and media persons lost their lives because they dared to dissent.
Romanticizing and exploiting the armed forces is one of their strategies. Even at the risk of engaging the nation in an unnecessary war. There is unrelenting onslaught on the cultural and scientific institutions in the country.
They mock the collective intelligence of the people by appointing persons with no relevance or experience as heads of these institutions, propagating unscientific and irrational beliefs even at international science seminars, making us the laughing stock of the entire world.
Banning and censoring ‘works of art,’ especially the most powerful of the lot – Cinema and Books – is their way of keeping the population away from the truth.
Farmers have been completely forgotten. In fact, the BJP has made the country the boardroom property of a handful of businessmen. Flawed economic policies that ended up as extreme disasters are covered up and made to look like successes. All with the help of false propaganda and marketing blitz. This has helped them to create a false optimism in the country.
Manipulation of statistics and history is another one of their fond projects. Giving them one more term in power will be a grave blunder. It could well be the last nail in the coffin for the biggest democracy in the world.
We urge all of you to do everything in your capacity to keep this harmful regime from coming back to power. Let your mandate be to choose a Government that respects the Constitution of India, protects our freedom of speech and expression, and refrains from all kinds of censorship.
Yes, This is our last chance!".