Latest news with #censor
NDTV
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Rule Of Law Mandates...": Top Court On Kamal Haasan's Film's Karnataka Release
New Delhi: Kamal Haasan 's new film, ' Thug Life ', has a censor board certificate and must be released in Karnataka, notwithstanding controversy over the actor-politician's comment about the Kannada language being "born out of Tamil", the Supreme Court said Tuesday afternoon. The court also asked tough questions of the Karnataka government for failing to ensure the film's release - in the face of threats against its screening and a warning by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to 'ban' its release - and directed the state to file a reply in 24 hours. "The rule of law mandates that a person must be able to release his film... a film with a CBFC (Censor Board of Film Certification) must be released," an irked Supreme Court said. The film released worldwide on June 5 but has not been screened in Karnataka so far. Pro-Kannada groups claimed offence over the actor's comment at a pre-launch event in Chennai. Kannada groups and activists had demanded an apology from the actor, but he refused to make one, saying his comments were misunderstood and that he deeply respects the language. The court also noted the Karnataka High Court should not have called on Kamal Haasan to apologise for his remark. On June 3 the High Court served up a culinary-themed warning, telling the actor "... you cannot unscramble a scrambled egg" and urging him to make an apology. The actor, however, refused to do so, as he has since the controversy broke. The hearing in the High Court were over a plea by the actor to ensure his film's release is not blocked in any way; this was after warnings by pro-Kannada groups against screening the film. The High Court, however, declined to offer any relief, declaring again he needed to apologise, "In this case you made a statement. Withdraw that statement... that is all. Crores can be earned from Karnataka... but if you don't need the people (of Kannada) then leave the revenue..." That point was flagged today by the Supreme Court, which transferred the case from the High Court to itself, and pointed out, "... we can't let mob and vigilant groups take over the state..." In the last Supreme Court hearing on this matter, advocate A Velan, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, i.e., Kamal Haasan, had accused the Karnataka government of bowing to pressure from "anti-social elements". The court's response to this was sharp and clear; Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said, "We can't let mob and vigilant groups take over the state... we cannot allow this."
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Aamir Khan answers those questioning his patriotism: ‘My film Sarfarosh was the first to take Pakistan's name, suffered losses but…'
India and Pakistan's recent conflict after the Pahalgam terror attack has caused a storm in the Hindi film industry. Many people blamed the Khan trio – Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan for not speaking up against Pakistan publicly in the aftermath of the attack. No, in a recent interview, Aamir defended himself after the accusations, revealing that his 1999 release Sarfarosh was the first ever film in the history of Indian films, to refer to the country as Pakistan instead of 'padosi mulk'. The actor also revealed that he even took a stand for the country and didn't allow Dangal's release in Pakistan despite possible losses, because their censor board demanded the removal of the Indian flag and national anthem. During a chat with Rajat Sharma on his show Aap Ki Adalat, Aamir cited former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani's example and said, 'If you pick India's film history, we have never been allowed to take their name, we had to use the term 'padosi mulk'. My film Sarfarosh was the first one ever in history, in which we have taken Pakistan and ISI's names without hesitation. John said that the Censor Board won't pass this. I said, 'Why won't they? We will explain it to them'. When Advani ji can call their name in the Parliament publicly that they are doing wrong by us and spreading terrorism, then why can't we?' The film's team finally received the permission to take Pakistan's name. 'We got permission to use the names on that basis. So many films released after that were using Pakistan's name. People say that I don't say anything against them, but sabse bada naam toh unka maine hi liya hai, aur kisi ne nahi. After Sarfarosh, I got many negative comments from Pakistan for attacking them in the film,' he added. Moreover, Aamir Khan lost money for not allowing his 2016 film Dangal's release at the theatres in Pakistan. 'When Dangal released, Disney was one of the producers. When they presented it, they got a reaction from Pakistan's censor board to remove the last scene – where they hoist the tricolour and sing the national anthem after Geeta Phogat's victory in the match. I told them within a second that our film won't be released in Pakistan. I didn't even think twice. They said that it will affect our business and cause losses. I told them I have no interest in people who are asking to remove the Indian flag and national anthem, I don't want that business or money,' the actor shared. ALSO READ | Aamir Khan recalls creditors yelling at him when father went 'almost bankrupt': 'They would say your father hasn't paid us back, very difficult period' When asked by the host about making most of his money from China, he clarified and replied, 'I have earned the most from India only. In China, two of my films worked a lot – Secret Superstar and Dangal. They love my films a lot. When these films released, we didn't have any enemity with China, there was actually friendship.' Referring to a recent award he received in China, he continued, 'They didn't call me 'National treasure of China', you should take note that they awarded me as 'National treasure of India'. Yes, they are out enemies right now. Jo Jo humaare khilaaf hoga, lekin main humesha humaare armed forces and desh ki saath hi khada rahunga.' During the same interview, Aamir also spoke about visiting the soldiers at Kargil. 'I have gone there. When the Kargil war happened and we won, I spent eight days there. I landed in Leh and I was on that road which leads to Srinagar, for those eight days. I met every regiment there – SM rifle, Rajputana rifle, Ladakh scout, and many more. I only met jawans, went to encourage them. Aapne humaare liye yudh jeeta hai, hifaasat ki hai, main aapko pranaam karta hun, main aapka shukraguzaar hun. I don't think anyone else went there,' he said. From living in a bunker near the border to eating with the soldiers, the actor did it all. Instead of him encouraging the jawans, the opposite happened. 'I made a request to the army's high command to spend these eight days with jawans, not with officers specifically. I wanted to encourage them but after spending so many days, I realised that our Indian soldiers don't even need to motivation. They are living and working in such a difficult terrain but their confidence and strength is of another level. They have a bright smile on their faces. They ended up boosting my morale, instead of vice versa.' 'I ate with them and asked about their lives. I even spent one of the nights in a bunker at the border. There were around 6-8 soldiers there with me. I don't think anyone else has done this. I am only answering this because you asked, otherwise I don't feel good about advertising whatever good deeds I have done. I don't have this nature, I live my own life,' Aamir concluded.
Epoch Times
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
‘We Won't Forget': Canada Marks 36th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre
Canada's embassy in China has issued a statement commemorating the June 4 anniversary of the massacre in Beijing's largest public square, where more than 30 years ago the government violently suppressed a student-led pro-democracy movement. 'We won't forget [June 4,] 1989,' wrote Canada's embassy in China in a June 3 social media The Global Affairs Canada also marked the massacre's 36th anniversary, calling it a 'violent crackdown' that killed 'many unarmed and peaceful citizens.' 'To honour the lives lost, Canada continues to call on China to uphold its human rights obligations under international law,' the agency said in a June 4 social media Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also issued a Related Stories 6/4/2025 6/4/2024 'Even as the world watched the brutality broadcast live, the Communist government sought to repress the truth of their massacre,' Poilievre said in a June 4 statement. 'They have never shown remorse, and their oppressive tactics continue to be used today,' he added. 'We must not let their denial of history win.' The federal Conservative Party has been a vocal critic of China's human rights abuses, as well as the Chinese regime's use of transnational The U.S. government also marked the 36th anniversary of the massacre, saying that while the 'CCP actively tries to censor the facts,' the world 'will never forget.' 'Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms,' Marco Rubio, U.S. secretary of state, said in a June 3 'Their courage in the face of certain danger reminds us that the principles of freedom, democracy, and self-rule are not just American principles,' he added. 'They are human principles the CCP cannot erase.' To date, the Chinese communist regime has not disclosed the number or identity of those killed in the massacre. New Generations Unaware Cheuk Kwan, co-chair of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China, says Beijing's efforts to censor information about the 1989 massacre have led to new generations in China growing up unaware of the incident. 'Even though the world watched in horror 36 years ago, the Chinese government is eager to suppress that information,' he told The Epoch Times, noting the regime's use of censorship methods such as internet blockades and media control. 'A lot of people, a generation later, do not even know that this existed.' He says this makes efforts to raise awareness of China's oppression more difficult, because 'we have to do double duty to not only commemorate [these events], but also to pass the message to the next generation–to make sure they do not forget.' The Toronto Association for Democracy in China was founded in May 1989 to support the student protests in Tiananmen Square and continues to advocate for democratic reform in China today. In recent years, the association has commemorated the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre alongside the 2019 Hong Kong protests, saying the suppression of pro-democracy advocates in both incidents amounts to a 'generational issue' involving the 'Chinese oppression both in Beijing and now in Hong Kong.' Kwan said that while many in Western countries understand that freedom of expression 'does not exist in China,' the lived reality in China and Hong Kong may still feel distant to them. He added that people in other countries can still support efforts to uphold the values of democracy and freedom. 'It is a duty for all the people who are freedom-loving people to defend this principle of freedom and democracy: the freedom of speech, the freedom of assembly, and of course, the freedom to voice your opinion without fear of retribution,' he said. Eva Fu contributed to this report.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
World will never forget brutal Tiananmen crackdown
The world will never forget China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, Taiwan's president and the top US diplomat said on the 36th anniversary of an event Beijing treats as taboo. The events in the Beijing square on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops opened fire to end the student-led pro-democracy protests, are not publicly discussed in China and the anniversary is not officially marked. Public commemorations now take place in overseas cities including Taipei where senior Taiwan government leaders often use the anniversary to criticise China and urge it to face up to what it did. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, in a post on X, praised the courage of those who took part in the protests, saying human rights are a concept shared by Taiwan and other democracies that transcend generations and borders. Authoritarian regimes erase history; democracies have a duty to preserve it. Today, we remember those who marched for freedom in Tiananmen Square. Taiwan stands firm with like-minded partners on defending democracy and human rights to ensure a free society for future generations. — 賴清德Lai Ching-te (@ChingteLai) June 4, 2025 "The commemoration of the June 4 Tiananmen incident is not only to mourn history, but also to perpetuate this memory," said Lai, who Beijing detests as a "separatist" and has rejected his repeated offers of talks. "Authoritarian governments often choose to silence and forget history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who gave their lives - and their dreams - to the idea of human rights," he added. "Not only do we refuse to forget history, we will implement our core values every day." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday praised the courage of the Chinese people who were killed in the bloody crackdown. "Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to suffer persecution as they seek accountability and justice for the events of June 4, 1989," Rubio said in a statement."The CCP actively tries to censor the facts, but the world will never forget," he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Before dawn on June 4, 1989, Chinese tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square, crushing weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations by students and workers. China has never provided a death toll, but rights groups and witnesses say the figure could run into thousands. China blamed the protests on counter-revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the ruling Communist Party. In Hong Kong, where thousands used to gather to mark the anniversary before China's imposition of a national security law in 2020, security was tight around Victoria Park, the site of the previous mass candlelight vigils. Hong Kong's leader John Lee said on Tuesday police would take stringent enforcement actions against any acts endangering national security.
Straits Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
We will never forget Tiananmen crackdown, Taiwan and US say on 36th anniversary
Police patrol outside the entrance of a fair at Victoria Park in Hong Kong's on June 3, 2025, where people traditionally gathered annually on June 4 to mourn the victims of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown. PHOTO: AFP We will never forget Tiananmen crackdown, Taiwan and US say on 36th anniversary TAIPEI - The world will never forget China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te and the top US diplomat said on the 36th anniversary of an event Beijing treats as taboo and allows no public remembrance. The events on and around the central Beijing square on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops opened fire to end the student-led pro-democracy protests, are not publicly discussed in China and the anniversary is not officially marked. Public commemorations take place in overseas cities including Taipei where senior Taiwan government leaders often use the anniversary to criticise China and urge it to face up to what it did. Mr Lai, in a post on Facebook on June 4, praised the courage of those who took part in the protests, saying human rights are a concept shared by Taiwan and other democracies that transcend generations and borders. 'The commemoration of the June 4 Tiananmen incident is not only to mourn history, but also to perpetuate this memory,' said Mr Lai, who Beijing detests as a 'separatist' and has rejected his repeated offers of talks. 'Authoritarian governments often choose to silence and forget history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who gave their lives - and their dreams - to the idea of human rights,' he added. 'Not only do we refuse to forget history, we will implement our core values every day.' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on June 3 praised the courage of the Chinese people who were killed in the bloody crackdown. 'Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to suffer persecution as they seek accountability and justice for the events of June 4, 1989,' Mr Rubio said in a statement. 'The CCP actively tries to censor the facts, but the world will never forget,' he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Security tight in Hong Kong Before dawn on June 4, 1989, Chinese tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square, crushing weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations by students and workers. China has never provided a full death toll, but rights groups and witnesses say the figure could run into thousands. China blamed the protests on counter-revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the ruling Communist Party. The Tiananmen Mothers, which represents relatives of those killed, put out this week their annual statement calling for a public accounting of what happened. 'The executioners of that year have passed away one after another, but as the continuation of the ruling party, the current government has a responsibility to respond to and address the Tiananmen Massacre,' Madam Zhang Xianling, whose son Wang Nan was killed, said in a video message. In Hong Kong, where thousands used to gather to mark the anniversary before China's imposition of a national security law in 2020, security was tight around Victoria Park, the site of the previous mass candlelight vigils. Hong Kong's leader John Lee said on June 3 police would take stringent enforcement actions against any acts endangering national security. A performance artist was forced to leave the vicinity of the park and a shop selling small white candles was raided by customs officials on June 3. One jailed pro-democracy activist, Chow Hang-tung, is staging a 36- hour hunger strike in prison to mark the anniversary. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
