‘Pathaan’ riddle : Crossing the limits is no way to entertain people where majority love modesty
By D N Singh
As the year 2022 draws to an end, the debates over certain things are far from over. No politics this please but something relatable to Indian ethos and civilization.
Of them, some from the films made in India have got mired in similar fracases. Today, a clip from the SRK helmed film ‘Pathaan’ is making itself to the headlines for a colour of the cloth piece the female lead Deepika Padukone seen wearing.
Which has incurred the wrath of some people who dubbed it as an affront to the Hindu sentiments as saffron symbolizes purity and peace in the said above culture.
So, the matter is with the CBFC to take a call on the alleged insult to a culture and depicts vulgarity and insult in the name of art.
But, what must be worrying many people is the soft-pedaling by the CBFC chairperson Prashun Joshi. Joshi in his communication with the maker of ‘Pathaan’ has advised a close re-look into the production and do away with anything which amounts to be an affront towards Hindu sentiments.
Prashun, known for his outspokenness and upfront views has not made a single mention of the avoidable vulgarity of the picture itself where the female lead Deepika is not only very scantily dressed but reveals a boldness one does not know if the script has demanded it. Else, the pose taken there by Shah Rukh and Deepika, was more or less depicts provocation under any manner.
Both senior and famed actors either made to or willingly agreed to pose as that, or was a part of a design to pitch fork the film to an unavoidable debate just for a hot-sell in the theatres.
Bollywood is not Hollywood and the Indian film makers always try to be modest in many picturisations within a limit of modesty and remain family friendly.
Even , the media has been pitiably economical in its reviews on the controversial video clip that sparked jitters among a section of the society who voiced protest against the saffron abuse.
There is a role here for the CBFC to become more straight and non-partisan in its dealing with the alleged outrage.