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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Reel life in the dark room of Emergency
It didn't take even three decades for the sovereign democratic Republic of India to face a nation-wide internal Emergency (June 25, 1975–March 21, 1977), which in practice meant democratic despotism and electoral autocracy. Both paradoxical and contradictory-in-terms, when film producers, directors and artistes saw how their freedom was clipped while the censorial scissors became extra-constitutionally sharper in the hands of an elected despot. After the Emergency got over, the newly elected Janata Party government at the Centre published a White Paper on Misuse of Mass Media During the Internal Emergency in August 1977, that listed all branches of mass media (including cinema) and examined how their rights were violated through the reckless abuse of power. Playback singer Kishore Kumar was another artiste who fell out with the authorities during the Emergency. (HT Photo) My story begins with two instances from Southern India that the White Paper did not mention. Incidentally, on the very day of the clamping of the draconian Emergency, i.e. June 25, 1975, a Kannada film was winding up its shooting while a Malayalam film project was being launched in Bengaluru; the Malayalam film crew was in the Karnataka capital because at that time the State government was offering a subsidy of ₹ 50,000 to producers who made films in that state. The Malayalam film was Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol (When the Kabani River Turned Red, 1975). The director of the film, PA Backer, and its producer, Pavithran, are no more, but I spoke with TV Chandran, who debuted as an actor in Kabani (Chandran is better known as a screenwriter and director in Kerala today). Chandran recalled how they were harassed during the shoot because the film dealt with the theme of student revolt against the establishment. Later, the censors asked the producer to chop off nearly 1,000 feet of the footage. Parts of the film were reshot and was resubmitted to two central representatives. The film was screened for the two men at the massive Kalaivanar Arangam theatre in Madras (Chennai), who did not find anything objectionable in it. However, Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol was withdrawn from a cinema hall in Thiruvananthapuram a couple of weeks after its release under government instruction. This time, the police ordered further cuts. The second story is about the Kannada film, Chanda Maruta (Rogue Winds, 1975) starring Snehalatha Reddy and directed by her husband Pattabhi Rama Reddy. The film, inspired by P Lankesh's play Kranthi Bantu Kranthi had, in fact, prophesied the Emergency. The censors banned the film. On June 25, 1975, Snehalata Reddy, who was one part of the lead pair (along with Girish Karnad) in Samskara (1970), Pattabhi Rama Reddy's adaptation of UR Ananthamurthy's celebrated novel, was imprisoned on false charges. She was tortured in Bangalore Central Prison and passed away while on parole on January 20, 1977. She was only 45. Eminent Malayalam writer-director MT Vasudevan Nair had planned to make a film about her, which, unfortunately, didn't happen. However, Uma Chakravarti's documentary Prison Diaries (2019) provides us an invaluable document about the imprisonment of a number of women who resisted the Emergency through the life of Snehalatha Reddy. Anand Patwardhan's 1978 film Prisoners of Conscience is a chronicle of how, under the Emergency, dissenters were detained and tortured in prisons. Among the films the White Paper mentions is Aandhi (Storm, 1975) directed by Gulzar and starring Sanjiv Kumar and Suchitra Sen. The film's heroine was to be modelled on Indira Gandhi but that idea was dropped. Permission was granted only after the producer revised the film. Kissa Kursi Ka, directed by Amrit Nahata in 1975, fared worse. The film was a satire on the politics of that time. It was first banned and later, its prints were confiscated. The film as well as its negative were destroyed. Andolan, directed by Lekh Tandon (1975) dealt with the 1942 movement. It could not be released because the producer was ordered to cut all the portions dealing with underground activities that were contextualised around the story. Even the blockbuster Sholay wasn't spared. The censors asked the producer to change the end scenes. Playback singer Kishore Kumar was another artiste who fell out with the authorities during the Emergency. As a result, his songs were banned from the radio and television, both controlled by the government, and the sale of gramophone records with his songs was made unlawful! Such bullying and arm-twisting by the central government were commonplace during the 21 months of the Emergency. Like Snehalatha Reddy and Kishore Kumar, not everyone meekly surrendered. Actor Dev Anand opposed the Emergency publicly and described it as a 'dark night, a nightmare, an insult to the people'. He even formed a political party – the National Party of India – which had to be disbanded when he failed to find suitable candidates to fight elections after the Emergency was lifted in 1977. As the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, these instances of pushback should be remembered. Amrit Gangar is a Mumbai-based author, curator and historian. The views expressed are personal.
New Indian Express
04-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
CM Stalin inaugurates Semmozhi expo on Karuna's birth anniversary
CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday inaugurated the Tamil Semmozhi exhibition as part of the Semmozhi Naal celebrations. The birth anniversary of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, June 3, is being celebrated as Semmozhi Naal. The exhibition, which is on at Kalaivanar Arangam, showcases a rare collection of photographs of Karunanidhi, old editions of classical Tamil works, palm-leaf manuscripts giving details about the evolution of Tamil language, literature and civilisation through artefacts showing the antiquity of Tamil civilisation. An official release said the exhibition has been extended till June 9 so that the public and students from schools and colleges could view it free of cost. The exhibition features include the history of classical Tamil, scripts from the Indus valley and Tamil Nadu symbols, Sangam-era inscriptions, pottery with Tamil inscriptions, details of Thirvalangadu copper plates, hero stone inscription from Keezh Mukkuttoor, Kalaiganr Karuvoolam with digital interactive features, a list of nationalised works of Karunanidhi, etc. As part of the Semmozhi Naal celebrations, the government will also be organising literary competitions, including oratorical contests, contests on writing poetry, quiz programmes, moral storytelling events, etc.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
DMK celebrates Karunanidhi's birthday as Semmozhi Day
Chennai: Celebrating late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi 's 102nd birth anniversary as Semmozhi Day, chief minister M K Stalin inaugurated an exhibition titled 'Tamil Semmozhi,' on Tuesday. The expo displaying pictures of Tamil inscriptions portraying rich Tamil history would be open for public till June 9. Stalin commenced the day with a visit to Karunanidhi memorial in Marina beach where he paid floral tributes. He then proceeded to Omandurar govt hospital to garland Karunanidhi's statue. Later, he visited DMk headquarters Anna Arivalayam, Karunanidhi's residence in Gopalapuram and then the residence of DMK MP Kanizmozhi Karunanidhi in CIT colony. Subsequently, he participated at a function in Kalaivanar Arangam where he inaugurated the 'Tamil Semmozhi' exhibition. He also released a book on four year achievements of the DMK govt and distributed Kalaignar Karunanidhi Semmozhi Tamil award to Tamil scholar Thayammal, which carried a cash reward of 10lakh and a miniature statue of Karunanidhi. He also gave prizes to students who won various competitions conducted for Semmozhi Day at the school and college levels. Across the state, DMK organised 102 events marking the 102nd birth anniversary. Special celebrations were also organised at Karunanidhi's birthplace Thirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam district.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. Chief Minister to announce nationalisation of books of five Tamil scholars on May 5
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is set to take part in the valedictory of 'Tamil Week', which is being observed to mark the birth anniversary of late Tamil poet Pavendhar Bharathidasan. He is also scheduled to present prizes to the winners of various competitions at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai on Monday. During the event, the Chief Minister is also set to announce the nationalisation of the literary works of five Tamil scholars and hand over royalty to their families. The books of Tamil Scholars are being nationalised by the Tamil Nadu government so as to take the treasures of ideas of Tamil scholars to the masses. Ministers M.P. Saminathan, Ma. Subramanian, and P.K. Sekarbabu are among the dignitaries expected to participate in the event. In line with an announcement by the Chief Minister, the Tamil Nadu government has been celebrating the birth anniversary of Bharathidasan during 'Tamil Week' since April 29. It had organised various literary events in all district headquarters with the participation of Tamil scholars. As the DMK government headed by Mr. Stalin is set to enter its fifth year later this week, the State government, in an official release, recalled the awards and laurels it had earned over the past four years. The Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme and Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam, among others, were being held in high regard not only in the country but beyond, including in the United Nations, it said. The Chief Minister had safeguarded the people of Tamil Nadu during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the 'indifference of the Union government which is supposed to extend a helping hand during cyclones, heavy rains, and floods' and 'the obstinacy with which it informed Parliament that it would not grant funds,' the release said. The release added: 'Today, the people of Tamil Nadu are appreciating [the State government]. Women, students, labourers, entrepreneurs are appreciating. The media is appreciating. The governments of other States are appreciating. The courts are appreciating.' It further said: 'Above all, the Union government is appreciating the Tamil Nadu government and has presented various awards' and went on to list the honours received from the Centre on various fronts, including in the areas of police work, sports development, welfare of the disabled, water management, rural development, health and family welfare, and tourism development, among others. It also recalled that Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the first prize in excellence to Subramaniya Siva Cooperative Sugar Mills Ltd. in Dharmapuri in August 2024. It also pointed out that Mr. Shah had also presented to Tamil Nadu an award for excellence of cooperative banks. Last year, the Muthupettai police station in Tiruvarur district received the best police station award from the Union Home Ministry as well, it recalled.
