Mr Khan has got his statistics right. He knows how high the dam should be. He is also telling the nation to watch his interview carefully, asking the poor to listen to his voice (all in urban English), telling us he has shot his films in Kutch and even praying to God for water for all states. He is angry that people are in Gujarat are protesting against him. They sure have no business destroying his film posters and burning his effigy. For Mr Khan is only following his heart.
It is another matter then, that it took the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activists 20 long years to catch Mr Khan's attention. Reams of newsprint and re-rolls of news bulletins on the issue could not do what one drive along the Jantar Mantar brought about. Mr Khan was moved to support the NBA only after he drove past the activists sitting on dharna there, one lame evening. Ever since, there has been no stopping Mr Khan. He's screaming from national television channels, speaking exclusively to some print journalists and blasting all those erring on all sorts of fronts. And you can't blame him for that. The ``voice of the conscience'' has to heard. And when its Mr Aamir Khan, in his Rand De Basanti avtaar, you have no choice but to listen. Activism and revolution of course must happen in urban centers where there is enough national press to watch and capture footage. And for those who have forgotten, Rang De Basanti was the story of urban youth stirring up a revolution. Mr Khan is just extending his reel image to real now.
Why would Mr Khan otherwise choose to come to Delhi and meet the activists at Jantar Mantar? A larger number of those affected by the dam are still waiting in the silent lanes of Bhivadi in Madhya Pradesh where farmers are actually getting displaced. But then Bhivadi is tucked in too far off in some obscure corner of the country's map that Mr Khan can't locate. It is also not the place where the national press is a phone call away. And what good is Mr Khan lending his voice for the movement if his star power is not caught on cameras... sitting on the footpath with papers in one hand, concern on face and angry words to offer.
Of course Mr Khan's anger doesn't come alone. It is a package deal. It has his co stars from Rang De Basanti, Atul Kulkarni and Kunal Kapoor and director Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra walking along on the footpath in solidarity. I wonder why they didn't play Khoon Chala... from the film to mark the moment. That's the background song playing out in the film when the peace march at India Gate awakens the stars to a revolution. And it would have been perfect. Mr Khan meanwhile is saying in his interviews... ``you can call it the Rang De Basanti affect.'' But then again Mr Khan, just how could we call it anything else?
It feels great to know that the likes of Mr Khan... one of the superstars of our times took time off to come to Jantar Mantar. Feels even better to know that he is addressing the nation from television channels and asking us to think about the farmers in Bhivadi everytime we eat. But could I please ask Mr Khan why are we then hearing that he made Tehelka Foundation pay for both his and the Rang De Basanti batallion's travel expenses to Delhi and back to tinseltown? Could I also ask Mr Khan, that if he really is so concerned about the farmers and their livelihood, why doesn't he sponsor schooling for some of those kids back in Bhivadi? That wouldn't be asking for too much from a star whose films budget runs into crores, I guess. Or is that also unfair Mr Khan? And if it is, you can blame it on the press. I am waiting.
first published:April 16, 2006, 17:49 ISTlast updated:April 16, 2006, 17:49 IST
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Mr Aamir Khan is answering the ``call of his conscience'' and he wants the ``youth of the nation'' to listen to every word that he says. He also wants the ``lumpen'' politicians of the country to get him right. And why not. After all Mr Khan has recently been to Jantar Mantar. Spent time with the activists of the Narmada Bachao Andolan there and walked across to the Park Hotel and held a press conference on the movement.
Mr Khan has got his statistics right. He knows how high the dam should be. He is also telling the nation to watch his interview carefully, asking the poor to listen to his voice (all in urban English), telling us he has shot his films in Kutch and even praying to God for water for all states. He is angry that people are in Gujarat are protesting against him. They sure have no business destroying his film posters and burning his effigy. For Mr Khan is only following his heart.
It is another matter then, that it took the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activists 20 long years to catch Mr Khan's attention. Reams of newsprint and re-rolls of news bulletins on the issue could not do what one drive along the Jantar Mantar brought about. Mr Khan was moved to support the NBA only after he drove past the activists sitting on dharna there, one lame evening. Ever since, there has been no stopping Mr Khan. He's screaming from national television channels, speaking exclusively to some print journalists and blasting all those erring on all sorts of fronts. And you can't blame him for that. The ``voice of the conscience'' has to heard. And when its Mr Aamir Khan, in his Rand De Basanti avtaar, you have no choice but to listen. Activism and revolution of course must happen in urban centers where there is enough national press to watch and capture footage. And for those who have forgotten, Rang De Basanti was the story of urban youth stirring up a revolution. Mr Khan is just extending his reel image to real now.
Why would Mr Khan otherwise choose to come to Delhi and meet the activists at Jantar Mantar? A larger number of those affected by the dam are still waiting in the silent lanes of Bhivadi in Madhya Pradesh where farmers are actually getting displaced. But then Bhivadi is tucked in too far off in some obscure corner of the country's map that Mr Khan can't locate. It is also not the place where the national press is a phone call away. And what good is Mr Khan lending his voice for the movement if his star power is not caught on cameras... sitting on the footpath with papers in one hand, concern on face and angry words to offer.
Of course Mr Khan's anger doesn't come alone. It is a package deal. It has his co stars from Rang De Basanti, Atul Kulkarni and Kunal Kapoor and director Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra walking along on the footpath in solidarity. I wonder why they didn't play Khoon Chala... from the film to mark the moment. That's the background song playing out in the film when the peace march at India Gate awakens the stars to a revolution. And it would have been perfect. Mr Khan meanwhile is saying in his interviews... ``you can call it the Rang De Basanti affect.'' But then again Mr Khan, just how could we call it anything else?
It feels great to know that the likes of Mr Khan... one of the superstars of our times took time off to come to Jantar Mantar. Feels even better to know that he is addressing the nation from television channels and asking us to think about the farmers in Bhivadi everytime we eat. But could I please ask Mr Khan why are we then hearing that he made Tehelka Foundation pay for both his and the Rang De Basanti batallion's travel expenses to Delhi and back to tinseltown? Could I also ask Mr Khan, that if he really is so concerned about the farmers and their livelihood, why doesn't he sponsor schooling for some of those kids back in Bhivadi? That wouldn't be asking for too much from a star whose films budget runs into crores, I guess. Or is that also unfair Mr Khan? And if it is, you can blame it on the press. I am waiting.
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