Harish Palaniappan's

After cricket politics, welcome movie politics in india... better call it movitics since the links seem getting too closer that they are already merged words 'movies' and 'politics'.

We could actually start from years back, but to allow this writing to discuss till today's scenario we better jump in leaps.. starting with the movie 'Water' which got accolades in world stage but not one decent screening in India, to the review by Defence ministry for allowing the movie 'Rang de basanthi', to the name-sake ban on Da Vinci Code for impressing christians in the country, and the latest stupid ban in Gujarat on the aamir khan flick 'Fanaa', ..... uh..cough.. politics in india is sure maturing. (Anybody has a doubt here!, stop me.)

Wait a sec.
Everyone says Tamilnadu is the state where movies and politics are linked at the roots, and grow hand-in-hand... may be... ya it is... da vinici is banned in the state government even after the central government passed the movie..(its state government's turn to ban)

Whatever! I wonder... Is our politics really so boring :o) that all ministers and the government in the country seem to be watching all movies at home and banning what they dont like (or may be the ones they dont understand..).

movitics is the medicine to be taken once in a month (or a week considering bollywood frequency of new releases), to catalyze boring indian politics.

short sms:

.. hey guys there, our honourable indian politicians.. i know you are all busy reforming the country, and solving sitting-on-the-head big issues....anyway, consider taking a break out of the movies, you can watch it on weekends like i do, not so loyally every movie, and that too, before its release.

Movies and politics are so connected here..you know... it takes a message or two to remind people.. otherwise there are no issues in india. .. Do visit us.. (consider that a small incredible! india promo)

And yea! how did i forget this thing.. you must hear this..

Lately supreme court judges are pushed to handle some movie releases..

yea, breaking news today was, 'Supreme court asks Gujarat government to protect people who want to screen the movie Fanaa'.... I am not sure whether the judgement had any clause to provide security for the audience. Its such a state in that state.

You know why things like ipod, mac mini, sony handycam, japanese restaurant robots, sony's robot dog..and such gizmos don't sell much or nothing at all in India... because we just need a TV, watching news is becoming more entertaining these days.. and you should give it to the media's cover stories on such movie bans...they even started showing movie trailers part of the news.

India is happening. :o)

Disclaimer:
I am not trying to be harshly funny and unpatriotic about my country here... cmon' too many new movie releases and you always need to make strange ways to make the release breaking news.

The attempt to politicize movies actually does free promotions for the movies, or I would personally think so if I were a distributor for Fanaa (outside Gujarat ofcourse!).

And.. For the aggressive patriots who cry foul at all this... it also helps to keep your stress levels low if you can think of issues such fun in a way...until solutions show up.

With so many people around (second largest populated country), with so much happening (not just in politics), I would not leave india even on business for another 2-3 years...that's what i tell friends. Sure enough, more Indians abroad should be catching up with indian blogs and news these days to know whats happening in the country.

If you have more ideas (becos movitics will run out of fashion soon), write to those emailIDs which you find on indian government and ministerial websites making your suggestions.

Meanwhile i will wait till Da vinci gets the nod in Tamilnadu, and also a tamil version hits the screens in chennai..(with some funny name...i wonder whether it would be 'ragasiya kurippu da' :o)