Couple of weeks back I saw the Hindi movie Jodhaa Akbar. Directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar the movie talks about the romance between King Akbar a Muslim and his Hindu wife Jodha.

Many communities in India especially the Rajputs had objection to certain facts in the movie. Several controversies exist over the origins of Jodhaa and her being the wife of Akbar. Many religious groups in the country felt that the movie hurt their sentiments and called for a ‘ban’ on the movie.

 When the ban was not enforced, they resorted to physical violence. Theatres and halls screening the movie were vandalised, people were not allowed to see the movie. Thus in this process many harmless people got injured. Finally the Uttar Pradesh and couple of more states banned the movie.

I fail to understand why do people in our country have to resort to physical violence at the smallest of things? Its not the first time that certain people have had objections to a movie. Few years back when Deepa Mehta released her film ‘Fire’, it had to stop screening in theatres across Mumbai. The Shiv Sena termed that the film was against ‘Indian culture’ since it dealt with lesbianism.

If people have opposition to a movie, book they are free to voice their opinions in a peaceful manner. Our country is a democracy wherein everybody has a right to freedom of expression. Resorting to violence is not the solution. Such incidents only harm the reputation of our country.

 Because of the ban many film lovers have been denied an opportunity to see the movie. Hence, many of them will now rent out a pirated CD or DVD of the movie and catch it at home. Ultimately it is also the film producer’s loss.

Wonder when some people in our country will change?