NaMo divides Hindi film industry, #Bollywoodsplit trends on Twitter
Lok Sabha polls 2014 that has already split India into those for and against Narendra Modi has also created a split in the film industry.
Lok Sabha polls 2014 that has already split India into those for and against Narendra Modi has also created a split in the film industry.
Several Bollywood actors, directors and scriptwriters have appealed to the Indian voters to vote for a a secular party.
In an open letter signed by sixty film personalities including, Imtiaz Ali, Vishal Bhardwaj, Nandita Das, Govind Nihalani, Saeed Mirza, Zoya Akhtar, Nandita Das, Kabir Khan, Mahesh Bhatt, Shubha Mudgal and Aditi Rao Hydari, have appealed the nation to protect the secular foundation of the country which they have put as need of the hour.
The letter addressed to Indians says, "The best thing about our country is its cultural diversity, its pluralism - the co-existence of a number of religions and ethnicities over centuries, and hence the blooming of multiple streams of intellectual and artistic thought. And, this has been possible only because Indian society has prided itself on being essentially secular in character, rejecting communal hatred, embracing tolerance.
Today, that very sense of India is vulnerable. The need of the hour is to protect our country's secular foundation. Undoubtedly, corruption and governance are important issues, but we will have to vigilantly work out ways of holding our government accountable to that. However, one thing is clear: India's secular character is not negotiable! Not now, not ever.
As Indian citizens who love our motherland, we appeal to you to vote for the secular party, which is most likely to win in your constituency."
Actor-Director Nandita Das said that the appeal in many ways is a call to vote against not only Narendra Modi but all other parties which have divided people on communal lines in the past and still continue to profess the same.
But another section of Bollywood is againt it and has called it a conspiracy.
Director Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted, "Shocking to see some colleagues, under garb of stopping so-called divisive forces, are themselves dividing a secular place like Bollywood.
Actor Tusshar Kapoor also took to Twitter and said that secular card is being stretched a bit too far. He tweeted:
"To cover up for corruption & bad governance, the 'secular' card is being stretched a bit too far! No party can claim the secular prize!".
As expected, Twitter was abuzz on Thursday morning and #Bollywoodsplit was trending.
Eminent Bollywood personalitets like Lata Mangeshkar, Anupam Kher, Vivek Oberoi have voiced out their support to Narendra Modi.
"It is not only about voting for someone who is secular but other issues like corruption, quality education and health care, good roads etc need to be addressed too," Vivek told PTI.
It is quite a surprise to see otherwise non-committal Bollywood taking a political stand.