As the movie ‘Pathaan’ opened on box office with record breaking advance bookings and is being received well even on its content and make, we could not help but reflect upon all the negativity the movie was surrounded with, in the run up to its release. Before we delve into that, the success of the movie has brought a smile to not just fans of Shahrukh Khan but also those who detest the boycott culture and the general hateful diatribe in the country. Theatres have had to increase the number of shows looking at the demands of moviegoers as advance booking had already seen massive number of bookings. Trade analysts have said that the screen count for the movie is unprecedented as 300 shows were increased right after the first show taking the total screen count to 8,000 screens worldwide, with 5,550 screens in India alone.
The hate brigade of the infamous and powerful right wing in the country left no stone unturned to trash the movie by giving spurious calls for boycotting it based on vague and unintelligible claims. So preposterous were these objections raised that even the Prime Minister, likely referring to these mindless boycott parties, said during the BJP National Executive meeting in New Delhi, “No one should make unnecessary comments that would overshadow the hard work we do.” This reprimand was likely aimed at especially senior BJP leaders like Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narrotam Mishra and Bhopal MP and terror accused, Pragya Thakur as well as the Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment, Ramdas Athawale.
It was apparent, the right wing was merely nit picking and manufacturing “faults” in the movie to create a boycott atmosphere. It is heartening to know that cinema goers and cinema lovers alike rose above this tirade and kept the art in its element, away from cheap tactics used by right wing political leaders and their many fringe groups.
It was not just right-wing politics that was up in arms against the movie but the Censor Board appeared to be submissive to this perilous narrative too. The Chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Prasoon Joshi, had announced that the makers of the film were asked to make advised changes and submit a revised version.
The hate tirade
It all began when the first song of the movie, ‘Besharam Rang’ was released and since there was nothing remotely offensive about it, they went with “objectionable outfit” and “objectionable scenes”. The objection was that the actress, Deepika Padukone was donning a saffron bikini which is insulting to Hindus because saffron is a sacred colour to Hindus! In the decades of cinema where even yesteryear actresses have donned a bikini in many colours and shot all kinds of scenes with the actors, have quietly been pushed under the rug only to selectively target a film with a Muslim actor in the lead.
Ramdas Athawale, the Union Minister of state for social justice and empowerment said, “We don’t have any problem with Pathan except that it uses the phrase, ‘Besharam Rang’, in a song for the saffron colour. Saffron is not only the colour of the BJP or the Shiv Sena, but it’s the colour of the clothes that Gautam Buddha wore. About 2,500 years ago, it emerged as a colour of peace. Hence it is also an insult to Buddhism. If they don’t remove the word, besharam, our party will also agitate against the film. No colour is besharam and such a reference should be removed.”
Narottam Mishra was the first to begin this tirade. He had said, “The film ‘Pathaan’ is full of faults & based on toxic mentality. Lyrics of song ‘Besharam Rang’ and saffron and green clothes worn in the song need to be corrected or else we will take decision on whether to let the film’s screening happen in MP or not”.
There were incessant calls for boycotting the movie. Even on its release date, hate gang was still at it. Some Bajrang Dal men shouted provocative slogans, abusing prophet Mohammad while giving calls for boycotting the movie.
To oppose the Pathan movie, Bajrang Dal goons in Indore, MP shouted provocative slogans against the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). “O Mohammad, your Father’s name is ‘Jai Siya Ram’ (Hail Ram and Sita)”. #Islamophobia pic.twitter.com/d3OPZtacO4
— Meer Faisal (@meerfaisal01) January 25, 2023
Art triumphs Hate
Instead of watching these mindless boycott call videos, Twitter was flooded with movie goers and fans of Shahrukh Khan celebrating the release of ‘Pathaan’.
BLOCKBUSTER MAUSAM AT #GAIETY!! ?
Any @iamsrk release is a festival for SRKians and #Pathaan is no different! Full on celebrations have begun already!! ??Book your tickets now: https://t.co/z4YLOG2NRI | https://t.co/lcsLnUSu9Y@iamsrk @yrf#ShahRukhKhan #YRF50 pic.twitter.com/1ZiZXXIsuQ
— Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) January 25, 2023
The atmosphere in some theatres was electrifying.
Craze for #ShahRukhKhan is unbelievable.
His Fans celebrating the Movie #Pathan like festival.#PathaanReview #PathaanFirstDayFirstShow #SRK66 #SRKians @SRKUniverse @SRKFC_PUNE pic.twitter.com/40Vlb7EFs1— Himanshu Purohit (@Himansh256370) January 25, 2023
Unbelievable craze for #Pathaan in #Kolkata. Look at the energy inside the hall. People watching 2 back to back shows. During #PathaanFirstDayFirstShow because of such euphoria they anticipated they will not be able to hear anything & thus booked the 2nd show too. #ShahRukhKhan? pic.twitter.com/7hFAahil5s
— Tamal Saha (@Tamal0401) January 25, 2023
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