Markandey Katju: Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju has told why he is against Shah Rukh Khan's film 'Pathan'.

Markandey Katju told why he is opposing 'Pathan'

Shah Rukh Khan, Pathan: Former Supreme Court judge Markandeya Katju, who has been very active on social media, has now given his opinion on Shah Rukh Khan's film 'Pathan' as well. Katju says that he is against Shahrukh Khan's film Pathan and he has also given the reason for it.

Markandeya Katju has written in his blog – I have criticized the film Pathan in the past, but now wants to elaborate. Katju has written- Films are a form of art, and there are two theories about art (1) art for art's sake, and (2) art for social purpose. Both these forms of art provide entertainment. But art must be meant only to provide entertainment or appeal to our aesthetic senses, and if it is used for a social purpose, it ceases to be art and becomes propaganda.

On the other hand, other proponents believe that apart from providing entertainment, art should also have social relevance, and should inspire people to bring about a change for the better in society.

In my opinion today in India only another form of art (as far as literature and films are concerned) is acceptable. That's because today our people live in widespread poverty, hunger (we've moved from 101st to 107th among 121 countries surveyed by the Global Hunger Index), record and rising unemployment, skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, almost entirely facing shortage problems. Proper health care and good education etc. for the public.

Some people say that people also need entertainment. This is true, but entertainment can be combined with social relevance, as exemplified in Raj Kapoor's films such as Awara, Shree 420, Boot Polish, Jagate Raho or Satyajit Ray, Charlie Chaplin, Sergei Eisenstein, Orson Welles, etc. movies. It was also a hit at the box office.

But films starring Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, and Amitabh Bachchan have no social concern.

I am not against Pathan because of the right wing of the saffron brigade, or because I am against Shah Rukh Khan or Deepika Padukone (I don't know them). I am against it because it has no social relevance, and only provides a thrill.

That's why I consider such films as the opium of the people, which, like other opiums like religion, cricket, TV, etc., temporarily divert the attention of the people from the real issues of the country to non-issues.

The Roman emperors used to say, "If you can't give the people bread, give them the circus". Today he used to say, "If you can't give people bread, then give them films like Pathan."