Hailing Kerala as a State with no ‘censors’, actor Prakash Raj has said that when films are being stopped or banned, it is a sign of a dangerous disease taking over society.
He was speaking at a function organised ahead of the screening of the opening film Insult at the 22nd International Film Festival of Kerala. As a mark of respect for the victims of Cyclone Ockhi, the official inaugural event was cancelled and a candlelight vigil was held.
“When I come to Kerala, I don't come with a script to talk, because there is no censor here. This is one State where I can breath without fear. Today in India, there is an agenda at work. Not just creative voices, but every form of dissent is sought to be silenced. When you silence a voice, a louder voice will be born. They are threatening me, I laugh at them. They try to silence me, I begin to sing. What more will you take away from me” asked the actor, to a loud applause from the crowd.
Touching upon the recent attempts of censorship against Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s film S Durga , he said that the same people who have a problem with the film do not have any issues with a Durga wine or Durga bar, or even a street named Durga that is dirty.
“I raise my voice not because I belong to any political party. I raise my voice as an artist, as I feel responsible. It is very important for artists to speak as they owe their fame and position to the love from society. If we creative people become cowards, we should realise that we will be making society itself cowards,” he said.
He said that it was about time everyone put their foot down and opposed those equating Hindutva and nationalism.
“Today someone is lynched in Rajasthan and if the culprits can go scot-free, we need to think, what is the kind of narrative being pushed. You are trying to silence voices and instil fear so that the next generation of thinkers will be afraid to think. We shouldn’t let that happen. They seem to be the reincarnation of Hitler,” said the actor.
Honoured
Veteran Bengali actor Madhabi Mukherjee was honoured at the function. She said that the strong film society movement in Kerala is reflected in the success of the film festival here.
