Shonali Bose On Why She Doesn’t Stand Up In Theatres During National Anthems; Says, ‘Movies Is Not The Appropriate Place To Shove Nationalism Down Our Throats’
Shonali Bose recent spoke about her stance on why she doesn’t believe that the national anthem should be played in movie theatres before the movies start
Over the years, whether or not the national anthem should be played in the movie theatres before the movie starts has been a heated debate on social media. While many stand-up for it, people who chose not to are severely bashed online as well as by the people in the theatres. Filmmaker Shonali Bose recently found herself at the receiving end of backlash, harsh comments and criticism after she consciously decided not to stand during the national anthem, when she attended a movie screening.
The Sky Is Pink director even took to her official Instagram handle, after facing trolling, to share her stand on why she feels that movie theatres are an inappropriate place to play the national anthem. She expressed that ever since the Supreme Court in 2016 made it compulsory for the national anthem to be played in the theatres, she has never once stood up as it is an inappropriate setting for the government to force nationalism and patriotism on its citizens.
She has now further explained her stance on the entire controversy in an interview with Mid-Day. During her conversation with the media publication, she expressed how despite loving and respecting the country and the national anthem, she will never stand for it in movie theatres. She explained how people just stand for the sake of it, while chewing on popcorn and having casual conversations which is pretty disrespectful. She also explained how true patriotism should be nurtured ‘through education, understanding, and actions that contribute to the welfare of the nation.’
Recalling the entire incident, the 57-year-old filmmaker shared how a man, sitting behind her started shouting at her and called her ‘disgusting and unpatriotic’ for not standing up during the national anthem. She explained how a woman standing next to him soon joined. She added, “I turned around, and asked them to shut up. The lady was so uncouth that I could feel her legs on my chair. Though I was sure of what I was doing, my stomach had tightened.”
Bose further added, “I feel a movie theatre is not the appropriate place to shove nationalism down our throats. That is what I am protesting. It is disrespectful that people have popcorn in their mouths when they get up to show ‘respect’.”
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