The SC Just Made The National Anthem At Theatres Mandatory. Here's Why It's Not A Good Idea
The Supreme Court Made The National Anthem At Movies Mandatory. Here's Why It's Not A Good Idea
Close to 26 January or 15 August, walk around your neighbourhood, and you'll see tiny flags crumpled up, face down like trash on the streets. Such is the nature of mass Indian patriotism - make the right noises, but don't do the right thing.
And such is the nature of the Supreme Court's latest ruling, making it mandatory to play the national anthem before movie halls.
BCCL/representational image
Until last year, India had a more saner stance - it was not compulsory to stand up for the anthem. In 2015 the Madras High Court quoted a Home Ministry communication: "standing in cinema halls was bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film', and "would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the anthem" Not anymore.
The Supreme Court has now ruled that the National Anthem must be played before movie screenings in theatres across India, saying the move would "instill a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism"
How will it be enforced?
Will there be police at the movie halls, inspecting row after row for people devotedly singing each stanza? Will we be jailed if we refuse to sing? What if someone has a throat upset and can't sing that day? Will they have to bring a doctor's note to the movie hall?
What if violence breaks out against someone who doesn't sing the anthem? It has happened before.
Bollywood Screenwriter Heckled For Not Standing Up For National Anthem In Mumbai Cinema Hall! https://t.co/BLnA2jMBY8 via @indiatimes
¡ª Atheists From India (@AtheistsIndia) January 15, 2016
And what if you're literally unable to get up?
This October, writer and disability activist Chorao-based Salil Chaturvedi was beaten up for not standing was in a multiplex in Panaji. It wasn't thugs who took offence, but a husband-wife couple who took offence to his action.
Chaturvedi suffers from a spinal injury that prevents him from standing up. Now he's terrified of going to movie. Is he "anti-national"? No.
His father is an air force veteran. He represented India in wheelchair tennis at the Australian Open. He compiled the first Konkani audio book specifically for the blind. While the Supreme Court ruling states that the disabled are exempt from standing up, explain that to the many people just itching for a fight. For many, the anthem will come first. even before humanity.
What if you're with children?
Parents who take their children to cute kiddie movies know how hard it is to keep their little ones in their seats. It's normal, even expected to see the hyper-energetic little dudes are just bouncing off their seats, crawling all over the place before a firm adult hand brings them back. This is a demographic that cannot sit still at a restaurant.
Forget singing the anthem, now imagine getting them standing still for a full minute.
Will people follow it?
BCCL
Knowing how the Indian mind works, people will see it as adding a few minutes to the pre-movie advertisement screenings buffer to grab popcorn or do an annoying Facebook Check-In before the movie starts.
How can we play it at every screening?
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Does this even include B-grade movies shown in small towns, with names like Basanti Ki Shaadi Honeymoon Gabbar Ka (2002) intended get people turned on. If we respect the national anthem, we should be very selective of where the anthem is played.
After theatres, Supreme Court ll next make playing the National Anthem mandatory at weddings, bank queues, swimming pools & in deep sleep.
¡ª Sherrrr Khan (@PiyushParashar) November 30, 2016
Instead, the government should screen it on a private channel, or maybe use an anthem app so that people can rise up to the national anthem at a time and a place convenient for them. And for anyone who argues that India was more patriotic in the good old days, here's a flashback - when the anthem was played in movie halls before 1975, many would "not stand up, or even pay attention to the anthem."
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