Hypocrisy

Last weekend I went to the movies to watch the much hyped and ridiculous movie "Rab ne banadi jodi", but that is not the topic of my blog but the promo that was aired before the movie started.

The movie is titled "New York". Now right when I saw this title I knew that it is not about the city or its people but rather about the dreadful tragedy we all suffered seven years ago when two planes crashed into the Twin Towers. Those of us who were there or who had loved ones there were horrified but equally troubled were the people who were watching the tragedy on TV. It was an emotional time for the country and we are still in the healing process. I can't even begin to imagine the turmoil that family members of the victims were and are going through to this day.

The media was flooded with images and stories about 9/11 and its survivors. Several documentaries and movies were also made based on this catastrophe. Some were embraced as lessons to be learned and others were shunned because they unnecessarily exploited a grave tragedy to make a profit. All said and done we were finally coming out of this better human beings be it learning that not all Muslims are bad people and that terrorists have no religion.

So why after so many years another film is being made on the same subject? The promo began with the image of sexy John Abraham trotting his stuff in the back drop of this great city. There are others who add the glamour but the crux of the story is innocent Muslims wrongly accused and suffering torture by the hands of the law enforcement and The Homeland Security. Now we all know that many Muslims did face a lot of discrimination and prejudice, even now if you look brown you are subjected to "random screening" at the airports. But this is nothing compared to what other countries do to you if they suspect any foul play. As a permanent resident of USA I have faith in its justice system even though it can be sometimes cruel. Coming back to my point earlier in this paragraph, why after so many years another film is being made on the same subject? Haven't we seen enough movies and documentaries about the same? Haven't the filmmakers made enough money cashing in on this tragedy? It makes me sick to think that a powerhouse like Yash Raj Films would back a project like this.

Now to justify the title of my blog I must say that I was in India recently only two weeks after terrorists traumatized the city of Mumbai. There was a lot of anger and frustration which is well justified. But I also saw a lot of hope, hope for change, hope for safety and hope for an honest government. One day I came across an article in a daily newspaper there which featured many acclaimed filmmakers stating a point. I decided to read on and it was about some small time filmmakers who were planning to make a film on the 26/11 terrorist attacks. In the article, more known filmmakers were angry that some people would stoop so low to exploit this tragedy. They were openly boycotting any such project by saying things like, "its unethical" and "unsentimental".

So why is it that if a tragedy hits close to home everyone starts getting patriotic and self righteous? How come these same filmmakers are willing to produce and finance a movie about something that happened seven years ago and rehash all the old wounds, but not let anyone capitalize on their own tragedy? This is the limit to hypocrisy really.

R