'Pathaan' row: Explain ‘Besharam Rang; won’t allow film in Maharashtra,’ says BJP MLA
After Madhya Pradesh minister and BJP leader Narottam Mishra objected to Pathaan’s song ‘Besharam Rang’, another BJP Maharashtra MLA Ram Kadam has objected to the song featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.
Taking to Twitter, Ram Kadam said that he wants the makers of Pathaan explain themselves on what they mean by ‘Besharam Rang’ — which literally translates to shameless colour — since people have raised objections to the song on social media.
Also read: Saffron bikini controversy over ‘Pathaan’ movie song ‘Besharam Rang’
Hindutva activists and BJP leaders see a communal angle in the use of the saffron bikini worn by Deepika in the song released as part of the promotions ahead of next month’s release.
In his tweets, Kadam even alluded to Deepika’s solidarity with some Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students in Delhi in 2020 after they were attacked by a mob that allegedly had the backing of the ruling BJP and other rightwing groups.
#पठाण फिल्म को देश के कई #साधू #संत #महात्मा सहित social media पर भी कई #हिंदू संघटन तथा करोडो लोग इस फिल्म को कडा विरोध कर रहे है
महाराष्ट्र मे वर्तमान मे #हिंदुत्व विचारधारा वाली सरकार है . बेहतर होगा फिल्म निर्माता तथा दिग्दर्शक सामने आकार जो आपत्तीजनक बाते साधू संतो
— Ram Kadam (@ramkadam) December 16, 2022
द्वारा कही जा रही है .उस पर स्पष्टतासे अपना रुख बयान करे .
पर यह निश्चित है . महाराष्ट्र के भूमी पर #हिंदुत्व का अपमान करने वाली कोई भी फिल्म हो या सिरीयल हो. वह चल नही पायेगी.
JNUधारी क्या ज़नेउ धारी विचारधारा को जानबूझकर आहत करनेका क्या ये दुस्साहस है ?
जय श्रीराम
— Ram Kadam (@ramkadam) December 16, 2022
“JNU-dhaari [people standing with JNU] are hurting the sentiments of the ‘janeu-dhaari’ [Hindus who wear the sacred Brahmin thread],” Kadam said in tweets in Hindi and Marathi.
In an open threat to the makers of the film, he said, “Any film or serial that insults Hindutva will not be allowed in Maharashtra,” before signing off with “Jai Sri Ram”.
Many of those protesting against the song, including BJP leaders, have alleged “love jihad,” pointing at the Hindu actress wearing “saffron” and the Muslim actor in “green” in the song ‘Besharam Rang’ and called for a boycott of the movie and all of Bollywood.
While the filmmakers are yet to respond, superstar Shah Rukh Khan, speaking at the Kolkata International Film Festival on Thursday, said, “The collective narrative of our times is shaped by social media. Contrary to the belief that social media will affect cinema negatively, I believe cinema has an even more important role to play now.”
The comment is being read as Khan’s response to the online toxicity against his film.
Khan’s comments came a day after Narottam Mishra said that if certain scenes in the song were not “corrected”, the BJP government in the state “will consider what to do about the screening of the movie”.
Also read: ‘Pathaan’ row: SRK, Deepika’s effigies burnt in Indore as protesters call for ban
Mishra said the “green” and “saffron” attire of the lead actor and actress need to be “rectified” along with the lyrics of the song. Mishra also demanded a change in the title of the film.
