The gag orders: Are we stifling creative expression?

Kamal Hassan says curbing the freedom of expression or speech is not a dignified thing

In a democratic country with the freedom of expression as a fundamental right, the Indian Media and Entertainment industry is constantly facing backlash from multiple groups posing a serious threat. On the same issue, a session on ‘The Gag Orders: Are we Stifling Creative Expression?’ was hosted here during FICCI FRAMES 2013.

The panel, moderated by Shoma Choudhary, Managing Editor of Tehelka Magazine, saw the presence of prominent industry representatives including Kamal Haasan - who was in the middle of controversy for his film Viswaroopam - along with director and producer Mahesh Bhatt, actor Rahul Bose and Lok Sabha member Jay Panda.

Commenting on curbing of freedom  in day to day life, Hassan, who is also Chairman of FICCI Media & Entertianmnet Business Conclave (MEBC), said, “I believe curbing the freedom of expression or speech is not a dignified thing. I believe that the only way to stay young is to be immature, so even as a a father I wouldn’t try to curb my daughter's freedom. Even as the captain of the ship for my movies, I do not believe in curbing my actors ‘freedom of opinion’ or coercing them to change their opinions.”

Defending the other side, Panda added, “It is sad that a Supreme Court ruling allowing Censor Board to be the authority on certifying movies are defied by various State High Courts.’’

But reacting to Panda’s comments, Bhatt said, “Having a discussion on freedom itself is a sign that we are not free. I have lived with the Idea of freedom for 40 years. Today every film maker lives in fear of mobs outside. We are filmmakers, not underground revolutionaries , who make movies and not armed to deal with mobs. Also there is no sense of community amongst artists, 40 years back and even today, we still do not stand together as a group.”

Adding to the industry’s stand on the issue, Bose added, “There is a grey area in the definition of freedom of expression in the Constitution. We need to safeguard the definition of this and the exceptions  to this law should be used only in the rarest of rare cases. Art has the power to make people think, influence people. It could lead to protest, but will get people to think.”

The panel was in accordance that it is every person’s right to showcase their art, be it a filmmaker as big and reputed as Kamal Haasan or someone like a Kamal Khan. The fraternity needs to give up the  ‘I told you so’ stance  and stand up for the artists.  

The panel discussed how cinema in India has become regressive and is not provocative enough. They  also questioned if the industry cares for freedom enough, with film makers surrendering to the mob.

The panel concluded they need to create a pressure group from within the domain of artistic fraternity, that will articulate the need to change the rules. This pressure group will lead the change and require political representatives to take the collective voices to the parliament.

More than censorship, personal discipline should drive the content which is affected by cultural sensibilities that are represented by the commercial success of the art.