The stupidity continues. Alright, here we go again.
Yes, it's about the pK controversy, once more. Before I begin, let me say that this truly was a masterstroke. So much discussion, so much praise yet so much criticism, so much anger yet so much money, for what was a strictly mediocre film..it's just mind boggling.
Let's get the obvious out of the way first; pK isn't the "message" everyone thinks it is. In fact, it's so toothless that it doesn't even qualify as satire. All the film does is incessant finger-wagging at the symptoms. Unless the target audience were the most unfortunate/uneducated of villagers or the fortunate yet stupid urban/suburban dwellers, there is nothing new that pK brings to the table. Yeah, even Jaadoo precedes pK. From Ray's Mahapurush to Akki's OMG, these things have been done to death. The presence of peeing (no electrocution this time, thankfully), buttcracks, tharki, thokna, luulll and other "subtle" forms of humour may elicit more guffaws in the theater, but really, there is absolutely nothing new to be found here.
With that out of the way, let's get to the controversy bit. Is it anti-Hindu? No, that's complete rubbish. Does it focus heavily on Hindu rituals/practices/Godmen? Yes, but that's just the nature of the beast. If it were made in Italy, it would have focused on the Catholic Church. If it were made in Pakistan/UAE (slim chance, admittedly), it would have focused on Islam. Watch Religious by Bill Maher, and see how mercilessly Christianity is torn apart, although he asks the uncomfortable questions of Judaism and Islam as well. I mean what exactly was anti-Hindu in pK? The caricatures of priests and Godmen? Sure, not all are out to rob you, but you must admit, there are frauds aplenty.
Was it the idol worship bit? Well, idol worship isn't even a Hindu construct. The Vedic God is niraakaar (formless)...what we have in India is murti-puja, a way to focus/concentrate for the common man, via whichever deity you most relate to. The literal translation of both may be the same, but the meaning is not. You'll never find a mystic or a sadhu praying to a murti. Actually, the basic concept of idol worship as discussed in non Indic faiths is flawed. No one prays to a piece of carved stone. So that's that, if you're a believer, then this shouldn't offend you at all. I mean, unless you really think you're praying to that molded clay, you've no reason to be angry at pK.
Coming to the most controversial bit. Really...I mean really? That actor in the film was playing the role of an actor who was playing the role of Shiva. This is friggin Inception level depth. To find that offensive is crazy, to say that the film should banned because of it is even crazier. Heck, Amitabh Bachhan made a career out of squabbling with the Gods. It's not a big deal, let it go. Yes, I know what happens with other cartoons and paintings and caricatures, that's not the point. What's this..reactive intolerance? Criticism is okay, discussion is okay, calling for a ban or hooliganism is not. Anyway, coming back to the most important point. As I said, all pK does is discuss the symptoms. It doesn't even try to touch the right nerves, ask the right questions, or discuss the root cause (faith itself).
So, I don't see how/why anyone should be offended by it. I could offend more people with a single post, if I had that kind of audience. I mean, here is a film that tries to hammer a point by showing us a Pakistani embassy taken over by angels (it's like a Barjatya family in there), among a host of other severely cliched and heavy handed things. And this, they show in Brussels (Belgium), which may very well be the worst choice of place to make that point. There is nothing serious about the film, and I can't understand why people are taking the film so seriously, whether positively or negatively. It's just another film..like it..don't like it..be happy. Just stop being offended for....err...umm...God's sake!
Yes, it's about the pK controversy, once more. Before I begin, let me say that this truly was a masterstroke. So much discussion, so much praise yet so much criticism, so much anger yet so much money, for what was a strictly mediocre film..it's just mind boggling.
Let's get the obvious out of the way first; pK isn't the "message" everyone thinks it is. In fact, it's so toothless that it doesn't even qualify as satire. All the film does is incessant finger-wagging at the symptoms. Unless the target audience were the most unfortunate/uneducated of villagers or the fortunate yet stupid urban/suburban dwellers, there is nothing new that pK brings to the table. Yeah, even Jaadoo precedes pK. From Ray's Mahapurush to Akki's OMG, these things have been done to death. The presence of peeing (no electrocution this time, thankfully), buttcracks, tharki, thokna, luulll and other "subtle" forms of humour may elicit more guffaws in the theater, but really, there is absolutely nothing new to be found here.
With that out of the way, let's get to the controversy bit. Is it anti-Hindu? No, that's complete rubbish. Does it focus heavily on Hindu rituals/practices/Godmen? Yes, but that's just the nature of the beast. If it were made in Italy, it would have focused on the Catholic Church. If it were made in Pakistan/UAE (slim chance, admittedly), it would have focused on Islam. Watch Religious by Bill Maher, and see how mercilessly Christianity is torn apart, although he asks the uncomfortable questions of Judaism and Islam as well. I mean what exactly was anti-Hindu in pK? The caricatures of priests and Godmen? Sure, not all are out to rob you, but you must admit, there are frauds aplenty.
Was it the idol worship bit? Well, idol worship isn't even a Hindu construct. The Vedic God is niraakaar (formless)...what we have in India is murti-puja, a way to focus/concentrate for the common man, via whichever deity you most relate to. The literal translation of both may be the same, but the meaning is not. You'll never find a mystic or a sadhu praying to a murti. Actually, the basic concept of idol worship as discussed in non Indic faiths is flawed. No one prays to a piece of carved stone. So that's that, if you're a believer, then this shouldn't offend you at all. I mean, unless you really think you're praying to that molded clay, you've no reason to be angry at pK.
Coming to the most controversial bit. Really...I mean really? That actor in the film was playing the role of an actor who was playing the role of Shiva. This is friggin Inception level depth. To find that offensive is crazy, to say that the film should banned because of it is even crazier. Heck, Amitabh Bachhan made a career out of squabbling with the Gods. It's not a big deal, let it go. Yes, I know what happens with other cartoons and paintings and caricatures, that's not the point. What's this..reactive intolerance? Criticism is okay, discussion is okay, calling for a ban or hooliganism is not. Anyway, coming back to the most important point. As I said, all pK does is discuss the symptoms. It doesn't even try to touch the right nerves, ask the right questions, or discuss the root cause (faith itself).
So, I don't see how/why anyone should be offended by it. I could offend more people with a single post, if I had that kind of audience. I mean, here is a film that tries to hammer a point by showing us a Pakistani embassy taken over by angels (it's like a Barjatya family in there), among a host of other severely cliched and heavy handed things. And this, they show in Brussels (Belgium), which may very well be the worst choice of place to make that point. There is nothing serious about the film, and I can't understand why people are taking the film so seriously, whether positively or negatively. It's just another film..like it..don't like it..be happy. Just stop being offended for....err...umm...God's sake!
