Chaitra Shuddha Saptami
Some of the actors working in Marathi plays and films have decided that they would not canvass for any of the political parties in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections since there is no difference among any of the parties. Such stance seems to have been taken out of ignorance and to safeguard their interests. Some people do not look at any kind of art from just the art or aesthetic point of view. It is the standpoint of Taliban that things which are not permissible in Islam, should not be shown either in plays or in films. As they took over Afghanistan, they put a ban on women taking up acting as profession or even use cosmetics. India has experience of Talibani tendencies since many years. About 70 years ago, Muslims did not allow Keshavrao Datey from staging shows of a Marathi play called ‘Agryahun Sutaka’ since it was shown that young daughter of Aurangzeb named Zebunnisa, kisses 8 years old Shambhu Raje imprisoned by her father but Muslims had objection to a Muslim girl touching a Hindu boy even with motherly affection. The play could not be staged anywhere in Maharashtra. Finally, Hindu Marathi workers decided to watch the play at Damodar Hall, Parel, Mumbai armed with canes and sticks. Then the Muslim goons ran away and the show was carried on peacefully. Now, Varun Gandhi just talked about the canes and sticks and all Congressmen and followers of Gandhi have come together against him to end his political and social career. Sayyad Shahabuddin says that Muslims can not accept a Hindu boy falling in love with a Muslim girl even in films. Despite the same, if Marathi actors have such opinion that all parties are same, they are running away from the reality like a coward. Eucharistic Congress had held a congregation in Mumbai in the year 1967 and since then, spread of Christianity is carried on very cleverly and secretly in Hindi films. Marathi actors do not, however, seem to mind these things. Rajesh Khanna goes all out to help, including breaking laws, to settle Muslims from Bangla Desh in Delhi, Sanjay Dutt has close relations with Muslim criminals involved in riots; but no Marathi actor has ever raised voice against it. Maharashtra has the tradition of great actors like Chintamanrao Kolhatkar and Nanasaheb Phatak who were also very strong patriots; but going away from this tradition is like accepting the rule of Taliban
Source: Dainik Sanatan Prabhat
