“What are they going to do by sending me to Pakistan? “, says Director Kamal
Director Kamal has been facing the wrath of the Yuva Morcha activists after he questioned the police’s action of entering the cinema halls to arrest the delegates, before informing the organisers.
Six delegates were arrested during the ongoing IFFK 2016, after they did not stand up while the national anthem was played. Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Chairman, director Kamal questioned the haste on the part of the police for arresting the delegates.
He said that the National Anthem should be respected and people must stand up when it is played. But it is unfortunate that viewers have to stand up very time they are watching a movie.
This statement from the director did not go down well with the Yuva Morcha activists and they staged a protest outside his house. The activists raised slogans against Kamal and burned his effigy. They sang the national anthem in front of his house and asked him to go to Pakistan.
The veteran director has now responded to the protests against him. He said, “I am not sure why they are targeting me. They are protesting in front of my house claiming that I disrespected the national anthem.
They are singing the national anthem in roads as a sign of showing their protest against. Is that how a national anthem should be respected?. They should have a look into themselves before turning against me. Neither me nor the Chalacthira Academy have said a word against the national anthem.
In fact we are asking everyone to sing the anthem through slides and voice-overs in English and Malayalam. The DGP also directed us to do the same. I said that the police should have asked for our permission before entering the cinema halls. When police just enter like that into a theatre, it can turn ugly and create a scene.
That is why I questioned it. I did not make any statements against the national anthem, then why are they protesting against me. They are asking me to go to Pakistan. Earlier also they have said the same to many people. What are they going to do in this country by sending us all to Pakistan.”
He also added, “There is a seperate jury for selecting the Malayalam movies to be screened in the festival. Around 170 movies of the total 185 movies to be screened, do not have a censor certificate.
One such movie was Ka Bodyscapes. The movie was screened only after the honourable court’s order. It is the ministry who gave the permission. I cannot just decide whether to screen a movie or not just because I am the Chairman.”
Director Kamal has been getting support from many people for his stand in the issue. Netizens are have been debating over the issue for the past few days now after the Supreme court ordered that national anthem should be made compulsory in theatres.
