How watching ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ led a man to the Supreme Court…

The Supreme Court of India recently made it mandatory for all the theatres to play the national anthem before a film. After the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, many of the multiplexes in the city already started following this. However, it so far wasn’t compulsory for theatre owners. While many applauded the verdict, many others termed it as a move to enforce patriotism.

Amidst all this, let us introduce you to the man who solely initiated the movement. Meet Shyam Narayan Choukesy, who issued a Public Interest Litigation.

A sequence in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham‘ had Jibraan Khan (SRK and Kajol’s on-screen son) singing the national anthem during an event at his school. While audience in the theatre watched the film, Choukesy noticed with surprise that nobody was standing up.

“When national anthem was sung in the movie, I was surprised to see that there was no reaction in the audience. Apart from me only a few stood up to pay respect. Some people sitting behind even objected to our standing up. I couldn’t bear the disrespect. So I staged satyagrah outside the theatre later and put banners, distributed pamphlets to make people aware about respecting the national anthem,” the 76-year-old man said.

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“For me national anthem represents the pride, the struggles and the sacrifices made by our people, our leaders, our freedom fighters and specially Mahatma Gandhi for freeing this country from the tentacles of the colonial rule. Can’t we even spare 52 seconds to give due respect and honour to the anthem that represents so much?” he added.

Choukesy, who calls himself an ardent follower of Gandhi and his ideologies, moved to Madhya Pradesh High Court which ordered for the sequence to be deleted since national anthem was being used in a commercial venture. The makers, however, appealed to the Supreme Court. In 2005, SC dismissed MP High Court’s decision. Last month, he decided to file a PIL at SC to carry it forward.

What’s your take on the new mandatory rule? Let us know in the comments below.

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Ranjini Maitra

Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.