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'My Name is Khan' imbroglio gives Shiv Sena a bad name
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Friday was Shivaratri, but not the Sena’s day. Cine-goers in Mumbai, which houses one of the world’s largest film industries, snubbed the Shiv Sena as they came out in huge numbers to watch Shahrukh Khan starrer ‘My Name Is Khan’. And that ended the high-voltage political drama that unfolded weeks ago after the Bollywood star voiced in favour of the inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL, leading the Sena targeting his movie.
But as Khan’s fans thronged the city’s multiplexes which suspended the morning shows in the wake of Sena staging protests outside the theatres, the battle was already won. Yes, the Maharashtra government made a serious attempt to ensure law and order by deploying unprecedented security coverage outside the cinemas and made many a symbolic gesture including the decision of the state chief minister Ashok Chavan and home minister RR Patil to watch the movie in a hall on the day one of the release, but ultimately, it was more a victory of the people than the state.
It’s however not the first time that citizens of India’s financial capital have fought back adversities and followed their heart. On many occasions, the entire country saluted the spirit of Mumbaikars who went back to work as usual even after they became victims of terror and flood.
In fact, it was not clear as late as Thursday night whether movie buffs would be able to watch MNIK in Mumbai threatres as multiplex owners were reluctant to take the risk even as more Sena activists were taken into preventive custody. Police even assured that the government would invoke the provisions of Bombay Police Act to compensate the victims and damages suffered to their properties.
By the time the movie was released, over 2,000 Sainiks were arrested as a preventive measure though sporadic protests continued in some part of the city. The state government used many other tactics to tame the Sena including issuing of a stern warning to Shiv Sena’s executive president Uddhav Thackeray that his security could be withdrawn if he broke the law.
In fact, the government had earlier withdrawn security coverage of a few Shiv Sena leaders who protested during Rahul Gandhi’s Mumbai visit last week.
Once the film was released in Mumbai after many a hiccup, the 44-year old actor said he was overwhelmed by the support of Mumbaikars. He tweeted, “I thank u all for this..apologise for giving stress over the last few days...& now truly know the meaning of being humbled. lov u all so much (sic)”.
Though politically the Congress scored a few brownie points by Gandhi’s stunt of taking a Mumbai local (train) to show solidarity with Mumbaikars, the Sena on the other hand was at the receiving end from day one of the controversy.
It first asked the actor to apologise for his comment which he had made in favour of Pakistani players before unleashing attacks on the softer target, MNIK. By the time the movie was released, the Sena was miles away from its own family members, RSS and BJP.
Even on Friday, BJP president Nitin Gadkari reiterated that his party did not support its ally in this entire saga of protest against the release of Shahrukh’s movie. Gadkari said his party did not buy the Sena’s slogan of Mumbai is for Mumbaikars.
After all, Khan’s magic overpowered the Hindutva bond of the larger Sangh Parivar. It is now left to see if MNIK becomes the genesis of someone’s identity crises soon enough. The imbroglio has already given it a bad name.
But as Khan’s fans thronged the city’s multiplexes which suspended the morning shows in the wake of Sena staging protests outside the theatres, the battle was already won. Yes, the Maharashtra government made a serious attempt to ensure law and order by deploying unprecedented security coverage outside the cinemas and made many a symbolic gesture including the decision of the state chief minister Ashok Chavan and home minister RR Patil to watch the movie in a hall on the day one of the release, but ultimately, it was more a victory of the people than the state.
It’s however not the first time that citizens of India’s financial capital have fought back adversities and followed their heart. On many occasions, the entire country saluted the spirit of Mumbaikars who went back to work as usual even after they became victims of terror and flood.
In fact, it was not clear as late as Thursday night whether movie buffs would be able to watch MNIK in Mumbai threatres as multiplex owners were reluctant to take the risk even as more Sena activists were taken into preventive custody. Police even assured that the government would invoke the provisions of Bombay Police Act to compensate the victims and damages suffered to their properties.
By the time the movie was released, over 2,000 Sainiks were arrested as a preventive measure though sporadic protests continued in some part of the city. The state government used many other tactics to tame the Sena including issuing of a stern warning to Shiv Sena’s executive president Uddhav Thackeray that his security could be withdrawn if he broke the law.
In fact, the government had earlier withdrawn security coverage of a few Shiv Sena leaders who protested during Rahul Gandhi’s Mumbai visit last week.
Once the film was released in Mumbai after many a hiccup, the 44-year old actor said he was overwhelmed by the support of Mumbaikars. He tweeted, “I thank u all for this..apologise for giving stress over the last few days...& now truly know the meaning of being humbled. lov u all so much (sic)”.
Though politically the Congress scored a few brownie points by Gandhi’s stunt of taking a Mumbai local (train) to show solidarity with Mumbaikars, the Sena on the other hand was at the receiving end from day one of the controversy.
It first asked the actor to apologise for his comment which he had made in favour of Pakistani players before unleashing attacks on the softer target, MNIK. By the time the movie was released, the Sena was miles away from its own family members, RSS and BJP.
Even on Friday, BJP president Nitin Gadkari reiterated that his party did not support its ally in this entire saga of protest against the release of Shahrukh’s movie. Gadkari said his party did not buy the Sena’s slogan of Mumbai is for Mumbaikars.
After all, Khan’s magic overpowered the Hindutva bond of the larger Sangh Parivar. It is now left to see if MNIK becomes the genesis of someone’s identity crises soon enough. The imbroglio has already given it a bad name.
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