After a slew of influential writers, Hindi filmmakers, actors and intellectuals protested the growing intolerance of Hindu right-wing groups in India by returning awards received from the Government of India, the spotlight was on the award-winners from the Tamil film industry, many of whom have earlier spoken out on many contentious issues.
There was an expectation that they will follow suit, but that did not happen. With actor Kamal Haasan seeing nothing useful in returning awards as a form of protest, a few other National award-winners have also come out and said that they will not return their awards.
Director S.P. Jhananathan, whose first film ‘Iyarkai’ won the National Award for Best Tamil film, said that he wanted to return the award, but in protest against the hanging of Dhanajoy Chatterjee (accused of raping and killing a child) in 2004.
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“As someone who believes that the death penalty must be abolished, I wanted to give it back in protest. But, then, I was advised by friends that it could be construed as though I am condoning rape and murder of a child,” said Mr. Jhananathan.
Collective decision
Asked if he would consider such an act now, Mr. Jhananathan said that he would consider it if it was a collective decision by filmmakers or actors. “Though I agree that intolerance has grown, I don’t think individual acts of protests are enough. It needs to be collective,” he said.
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‘Will not challenge intolerance’
Young filmmaker G. Bramma, whose first film ‘Kuttram Kadithal’, like Mr. Jhananathan’s, won the national award for the Best Tamil film last year, opined that giving back awards is not going to challenge right-wing intolerance in the long term.
“I don’t believe in reacting to intolerance and restriction of freedom of expression. If I return my award, will people be tolerant and respectful the next morning? A filmmaker – or any artist – can protest in many ways. To register my protest, I can make a public service announcement, write about intolerance, make films advocating tolerance and free speech. I believe in gradual and permanent change, not in immediate reaction,” said G. Bramma.
Lyricist and six-time national award-winner Vairamuthu wondered whether those who had returned their awards were ready to refuse similar awards in future. “They must address this question. Will they come forward to say no to awards on the assumption that a similar situation may arise in the future? As far as I am concerned, giving up their award is also a kind of intolerance,” Mr Vairamuthu said.
He said awards were given in entirely different circumstances and the existing situation would not warrant their return. “I don’t underestimate the decision of those who have returned their awards. It reflects their state of mind. But they must also realise that the award was given in recognition of their talents. Why should they renounce such an award? Instead they can express their views through the media,” he said.
Director Seenu Ramasamy, who won the national award for his film ‘Then Merku Paruvakaatru,’ said that an artiste could take a decision on returning awards depending on the situation.
Example of Gandhi
“When it comes to film awards, we apply for it to the government. In such circumstances, it will not be fair on our part to return the awards,” he said, reiterating that giving up awards alone could not be projected as a right form of protest. “In my opinion Mahatma Gandhi was a great writer. But he always resorted to fasting to express his protests,” he said.
Mr. Ramasamy revealed that he along with others who were associated with the film had decided not to accept the award if the government enforced the capital punishment on the seven Tamils convicted in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.