Aamir Khan. His movies are a must see; even if they don't make the mark. As an actor he takes great pains to become the character he has to portray and as a person is well liked by all across the Nation. He is actually so popular that one would have thought that PM Modi would appoint him as a junior minister in his cabinet in some capacity or the other given Aamir's crusade for social justice with his TV serial called "Satyamev Jayate" (Truth will Prevail). Well! that's exactly what's not happening today and his film "PK" has stirred up a controversy within the supposed religious class of India. In fact a prominent Indian politician has actually accused the Pakistani Intelligence ISI of having funded it to incite religious hate by Hindus against their own. I think the larger unspoken anger is at what the BJP has been touting as "Love Jihad" as it depicts the leading lady of the film hailing from a staunch Hindu family falling in love with and marrying a Pakistani Muslim boy; and her family vehemently opposing and subsequently accepting the match in the end.
There have been a few movies made earlier where the male lead is cast as Hindu Indian and the girl lead is Muslim Pakistani and those have never had an issue with anyone; including the sizeable muslim population in India. Then what is the Problem?
It's actually a movie with a social message conveyed comically that religion feeds and grows on ignorance and gullibility. It has created more misunderstandings and hatred than any other social division created by mankind. It's true. So what's the problem?
The movie has been made by the same team that made the "Munnabhai" series; namely Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Raju Hirani; both Hindus. The script writers have made fun of virtually every religion practiced in India. But the footage was hogged by Hinduism. But then, we are the only "religion" that worships just about anything in the name of God. And, to me, that is just great. To top that, many believe that Hinduism is not even a religion but a way of life and every person who decides to live life respecting God and his creation is in the true sense a Hindu. So, what's the problem?
The guy getting the stick is Aamir Khan - but guys, he is a paid actor who does his job well; and in this movie he is an alien with no religion of his own. The same actor has portrayed so many different characters in the past; and for most of them has earned the title of a true patriot. If that was never a problem then; then what really the problem now?
India's unity relies on its secularity; and by and large most intelligent Indians are proud of that freedom. We are a supposedly democratic Country as well where one is allowed to express without repression. I don't think fanning a problem is a way to grab publicity for anyone. India has a lot of other real problems to solve. Let's not create new ones that serves no one's interest. Let's grow up and really learn to respect the God that made us and not the ones made by us Mankind.
It's my last blog for 2014 and I would like to thank each and every one of my readers for the encouraging messages that I have received. Wishing you the very best for 2015.
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