Filmmakers must keep regional sensibilities in mind while making movies.
We are very firm on our stance that they should use ‘Mumbai’ and not ‘Bombay’ in the dialogues. Can they dare to use words like ‘Madras’ or ‘Trivandrum’ in the south? They dare not as they know the consequences.
It is only in Mumbai that such issues are misused in the name of creative freedom.
Creative freedom too has its limits and should not hurt any section of the people. Is creative freedom just applicable for Maharashtrians, not for others? It is a matter of Marathi asmita (regional pride) and we will not compromise on that.
The problem is that filmmakers here take the native people for granted. They must remember that it was a Maharashtrian who brought cinema to India. Dadasaheb Phalke produced the first Indian feature film, Raja Harishchandra, and is referred to as the father of Indian cinema.
The city’s name was changed by Parliament and even the Supreme Court accepted it. So going against it means contempt of the highest court in the land.
We are happy that Karan Johar understood his mistake and agreed to rectify it, but we warn others that such mistakes will not be tolerated.
{{/usCountry}}We are happy that Karan Johar understood his mistake and agreed to rectify it, but we warn others that such mistakes will not be tolerated.
{{/usCountry}}The producers’ association must take the stand and guide its members not to indulge in adventurism. Our cadres and the Marathi manoos have had enough of this nonsense and won’t take this lying down. We will retaliate, MNS-style (read: violent protests).
We challenge our critics to release their films with dialogues calling the city ‘Bombay’. Even theatres and multiplexes should not allow such films or else they will have to bear heavy losses.
We want to be a parallel censor board and will no longer tolerate stereotyping of characters. For instance, every maidservant is called ‘Shantabai’ in films and every constable is called ‘Pandu Hawaldar’.
It would be better if we are shown films before their release as it will save producers trouble later.