M. Burhanuddin Qasmi
Editor: Eastern Crescent, Mumbai
One thing we Muslims generally misunderstand, either due to our innocence or in the flow of religious sentiments, is that many in the Indian film industry – Bollywood, like some political parties, believe in making money by inflaming the sentiments of innocent people. They deliberately make anti-Islam and anti-Muslim films so that some people oppose them and some others raise flags in support of their films. They want every TV channel, newspaper and social media platform to keep discussing for and against their films. Sometimes the film makers themselves spend handsomely and provide inputs to the so-called opponents so that they can create a mess about the film in media and public. This author had also received a financial offer, in the past, from some film makers to publish a TV byte and newspaper statement about so-and-so film, and they said, “In return, you will gain name and fame, and a ‘philanthropist’ will bear all the expenses ‘for the sake of Deen (Islam)’.”
Commonly, when the opposing group is fully ready and it is in the battlefield to fight against the film, then only a supporting group of that film is brought forward into the open, that too in a filmy-style and usually by the film-makers themselves, in the initial stages. Conspicuously, without polarizing the atmosphere through such tricks for and against a film which does not have content for entertainment in it, cannot be successful.
Recently, a movie, I’m deliberately not naming, that allegedly portrays Muslims having more children in a negative light is in discussion among Muslims. The “Mujahideen” of social media are hell-bent in opposing and demanding a ban against the movie. It should be noted that this film has not been released as yet, and generally every film-maker spends crores of rupees to introduce his film to the public beforehand so that people rush to watch his film as soon as it is released in theaters. On the other hand, given the current situation, despite millions of opposition to any anti-Islam film by Muslims; it will not be banned in India. If a Muslim still does not realize this fact, then this person is living in some other planet, and he is in dire need of treatment.
Considering the present mind-set in India opposition of a Bollywood film from Muslims’ side will bear nothing except helping in the promotion and publicity of the film itself by unwarranted media hype about the film, which we are doing, at present, in search of reward (Sawab) either because of our extra innocence or utter ignorance. Some of us are also earning the “reward” of gaining popularity for ourselves in the social media by making the title of that film, its content and the people working in it famous for free.
It is noteworthy, however, that following the release of that film, it is possible that it will be a complete flop; may be all the things that were presented for promotion from the film-makers are not as explicit as they were made to appear, or it is also possible that it will become a big hit and our opposition will become a cause of further embarrassment for all Muslims.
Therefore, in today’s internet era, it is wise not to oppose any film, book or video, instead, offer a better alternative content to the public, because mere opposition only promotes that bad thing even more. Moreover, if films are even blocked or banned by any government to be released in normal mood that they are meant to be, then the producers upload them on OTT platforms like Netflix and YouTube, etc., which are then watched by millions of people for free – time and time again.
Spending energy opposing an upcoming film in this era is nothing but self-delusion and running after a mirage, which is not a rational action anyway. Some social media activists or small media houses incite the common people for this kind of unwanted activism against or for some illusionary danger in which their own marketing strategy remains part of their game-plans. Thus, it is highly desired from the public and the Muslim youth to stay away from such useless activism which helps none but your own opponents.
