I remember a time, when there were no multiplexes and visiting a cinema was a special occasion, where you dressed up and reached there much before time, to see all the government advertisements AND there was no popcorn, pasta being delivered to your seat. Maybe if your parents were feeling happy and not having carried snacks from home, you would have been treated to a samosa.
The National Anthem used to be played in the end of the movie and everybody stood at attention, sung along in their not so melodious voices and then the doors were opened allowing you to go out.
TIME flew, for a while they stopped playing the national anthem, before somebody recalled and it was made mandatory all over again.
Now there are multiplexes everywhere, working couples, friends, families come rushing last minute to see the movie, carrying practically meals that would feed a small nation, stepping all over your toes, hands mostly without a nary of an apology.
The National anthem is played before the movie begins.
And more than 30-40% people wait outside the door, chatting for it to begin and get over. Out of the ones who are already seated there are always those, useless bums who refuse to get up or get up slowly, muttering to themselves.
There are some people, moi included who take umbrage about this and there is an argument, even a fight at times. (newspapers have reported too)
Compared to the past couple of years, I have noticed that the people not getting up is in a very negligible minority these days, however the fidgeting, muttering still continues.
The most popular reason cited is “Democracy” which is all fine, but the same people stand at attention when applying for a visa, traveling abroad amongst other things, but feel it beneath their dignity to respect the country that they live in.
We are all to blame for this. Well I do stand up for the national anthem & sing it proudly. Do You?
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I personally feel, the national anthem should not be played at the start of the movie, it’s not required, it’s not related at all. The movie is for entertainment purpose, why to force someone to stand before watching any movie.
This way, the value of national anthem reduces int he mind of a person. It should strictly be played on 15th Aug and 26th Jan (or say, selected days)
The people have got bored with this standing exercise and it ends up creating disrespect for the national anthem.
I am still not sure why it’s being played at the start of every movie.. any idea?
June 18th, 2010 at 4:10 amIs this Maharashtra specific? because I don’t see the national anthem being sung in the NCR region.
June 18th, 2010 at 4:17 amIMO, there should be a time and place to sing the national anthem. I’m not sure why is it an appropriate time before watching a movie, especially the kind that we are subjected to nowadays.
Another thought… if I started singing the national anthem when I was in the loo, I bet we’ll have someone who’ll want to kill me.. just a thought.
How do you define “respect”? I know a lot of people who will start an argument with those who do not stand up for the national anthem. And yet, these argument starters are the same set who will spit on the road and throw garbage around. I do not see how they are being respectful to the nation by forcing others to stand up!
June 18th, 2010 at 4:19 amBeen standing tall straight and in an unfidgeting manner since long….
But the idea is - does it really make sense to play the anthem in a movie hall?
In my opinion - no.
Corollary, how many of our family members stand up when national anthem is played while we watch the Republic Day and Independence Day functions on TV in our homes?
Honestly, I wish I could make my family stand without reminding them everytime..
June 18th, 2010 at 4:27 amI ain’t bothered about the people who do not stand up for the national anthem but am worried about the next rapist, murderers, terrorists, etc etc. who will manage to become the people who govern the country.
Corruption is what runs India’s democracy.
“We are all to blame for this”
Absolutely. I can’t even defy a simple rule, set by this corrupt system, to stand up while the national anthem is played before a movie.
June 18th, 2010 at 5:04 amBeing a frequent cinegoer, it used to be irritate me no end when I first came to Bombay (apparently this concept is so brilliant that the rest of the country is yet to catch up with Maharashtra). Nowadays, I have learnt to dial out – but standing to avoid nasty comments or arguments with people such as the writer
My take is that respect for the country is not something you can force on someone - and especially like this before a movie. This gimmick almost seems like a social cost you have pay before you can enjoy the privilege of watching a movie. It may have made sense back in the socialist 50-60s, but it makes NO sense whatsoever now. What possible connection does a movie and the national anthem have ? If listening to national anthem frequently is good for your mind/body/whatever, why not play it four times a day across all tv channels etc ? Would have a much bigger reach that way ! The national anthem rule has been in effect in Bombay for quite some time I think. I haven’t seen this extended to any other medium like radio, tv or other entertainment avenues like Essel World etc. They why target movies specifically ?
Its mandated in our constitution to respect the national anthem whenever it plays, but the constitution makers obvisouly werent thinking about cinema halls when they made that law. Infact I bet if they had even an inkling that future generations would commit such buffoonery, they would have taken steps to ensure that the anthem is not disrespected by playing at such frivolous places.
June 18th, 2010 at 5:29 amKaka,
Thanks for posting this! I never knew to give a respect for 52 sec to our national anthem, not until I got into college. My ragging taught me this and now I stand up every time I listen, no matter the place/time.
Fagun - Glad you learnt it
June 18th, 2010 at 6:22 amThis is the first time i m learning that national anthem is played before or after a goddamn movie. for god sake..grow up. its just a movie. its not an essential requirement this country is offering me for my survival for which i shud stand up to show respect for my country. i have love for my country in my heart. and if u really have love for ur country, then rather than playing national anthem or vande mataram…just start the movie on time and let ppl be relieved of the lame movies they gotto offer these days. i suggest ppl stop goin to theaters and bring down the entertainment industry so that ppl cud spend their time in some quality activities. even if its doin nothing. IMHO.
June 18th, 2010 at 7:05 amDeep - Agreed. The argument here is not whether it should be played in the movie or not; the question is whether you respect it or not. A lot of people who have commented here, on twitter, facebook are a part of the so called “laid back generation” who think it is cool to thrash the anthem; just as the way they sign online petitions but get them to do something about it, Nay they disappear.
Would you be willing to take the lead to question this? Just like Jindal did for the right to fly the flag.
June 18th, 2010 at 11:12 pmSiddharth - I also do not know since I have not seen a movie outside of mumbai for the past half a dozen years barring, outside the country.
The Question here is not whether it should be played in the movie or not; the question is whether you respect it or not. A lot of people who have commented here, on twitter, facebook are a part of the so called “laid back generation” who think it is cool to thrash the anthem; just as the way they sign online petitions but get them to do something about it, Nay they disappear.
June 18th, 2010 at 11:15 pmPriyank - “Respect” for today’s generation also means Questioning everything, but unable to answer when questions are asked to them. The national anthem is sung standing (do not know if other countries sing it sitting down, you probably would have an idea) And my young friend civic sense and respect are not connected, which you are try imply here:)
June 18th, 2010 at 11:19 pmNitin - Completely agree, I do not know why it is played? but my question was more to do with - national anthem is sung standing in a public place, so do you stand?
June 18th, 2010 at 11:21 pmKaiwan - Well said, But then comes the main question - It’s easy to blame the system, what are you doing to change the system? Paying taxes, cribbing is not the solution, unfortunately, it’s the “in thing” for #DCAF generation.
June 18th, 2010 at 11:23 pmPradosh - Ha Ha the angst of frequency my young friend. I am not frequent cinegoer, in fact rarely. I do not know why Maharashtra has this rule & in fact at times have been amongst those who reach late
unpardonable I know & to my knowledge have never had an argument about standing, just a request to any age group has been enough.
Your take is warranted, just as everyone else; but the moot question is “What are you doing about it?” Do you feel strongly enough to try and make changes? Naveen Jindal did it by fighting the constitution - so that we can today unfurl the flag on top of buildings/homes, which earlier was not allowed.
You’re also right - all constitutions were Static not Dynamic, however other countries did not have our #DCAF generation so have managed to change quite a bit with times; whilst we still do not wish to.
But there is still hope.
June 18th, 2010 at 11:32 pmFagun - Glad you learnt it
June 18th, 2010 at 11:35 pmMS - Brilliant suggestion my friend. What do you want to do or are doing for this? or will rant about it since you also belong to #DCAF generation
June 18th, 2010 at 11:38 pmOr do you think that there’s just the chance that cynicism might be a factor in those “muttering, relctant” classes, cynicism that’s convenient to hide behind, cynicism from a lack of exposure (in the media of course) to the many good things about India, things to be proud off, more so if the broadcast media is the only place most folks derive their understanding of the country they’re a citizen of.
June 19th, 2010 at 12:48 amAnil - Well said and probably true.
June 19th, 2010 at 5:09 amHowever I support “Jana gana mana.. - a bad choice for India’s national anthem”, but I respect it. In fact, I don’t stand up for the song, or for the tradition, but for the love and respect for my country. If you have respect for your country, then stand up. No need to ask someone to stand up, when they don’t have any respect for the country. They are like garbage, just ignore them.
BTW, it’s surprising to know that it’s mandatory to play national anthem on movies in Mumbai. IMO, it should be played on screening of some special movies, not all.
June 24th, 2010 at 2:55 amDebiprasad - I completely agree with you.
June 24th, 2010 at 6:02 amdear sir,i completely agree with you,its time that people of our nation have taken things for granted,sir just imagine if we still had not received our independence,today we would have been singing the british national anthem:
God save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen.
Its time our people respect our national anthem and the number of people who sacrifised to give us our indepence and freedom we enjoy today,its just a matter of three minutes where we arise and participate in our national anthem.so people of india please take pride in JANA GANA MANA….
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:31 pmI find it increasingly irritating when cinegoers do not stand up, talk, munch on popcorns and generally move around during the national anthem. I of course do not understand why is it played before a movie but then given the fact it is normally played only on 2 days a year its nice to be reminded of your country’s national anthem once in a while. Singing along with it brings back so many memories of past years- may not be of national pride always.
July 5th, 2010 at 6:41 amI remembered when I went to see K3G in the theatre when there was a scean where Kajol’s son sings the national anthem on screen there were people in the audience who actually got up mid way through the movie. Awkward but then thats the beauty of the song.
I do stand up and sing whenever i heard the song- before the TV or a movie hall. Barely takes a few minutes of my time and well its a brilliant song to song anyway
I do not stand. Most people stand out of fear. They don’t stand in their home, but when surrounded by thousands of people they stand as to not be singled out. I’m sorry if that upsets you, but it is not against the law to remain seated. I am so sick of this sheeple mentality. “Our soldiers died for your freedom”. Bullshit. Just more propaganda that you heard as a child and now regurgitate as an adult. See the pattern? It is like the AIDS virus. Parents pass it onto their children in an endless cycle. The Nazi’s were no different. They believed everything they were taught and told. They believed they were immune to propaganda. They adored,trusted and blindly supported (without question) their leaders. They were patriotic to their nation. They proclaimed their loyalty through anthems. They had the love it or leave it mentality (better known in America as the |||||”||i||f|| |||||”you don’t like amurrika then git the fuck out!). When are we going to stop this crap? Please forgive me for not following suit just because the populace is in sync.
July 13th, 2010 at 2:36 amAnaggh,
I stand proud when the National Anthem plays in the theatres and even look forward to watching the various visual renditions and variation in the tempo in the theatres I visit. I sing along mentally most definitely and sometimes I sing along softly as well. And all this, every time I visit the theatre. I also feel a deep emotional connect with the concept of India…ufff…i could go on and on…
Recently, I came across a senior citizen who had come to the theatre with her family and they were seated well before the lights dimmed out. The climb to her seat would’ve been 20 steps, but when the National Anthem was played, she did not stand up. This was upsetting.
I don’t believe it was so much of a problem for her to get up and stand as much as the effort and a perceived futility to get up for a short 1 minute 15 second period. These days theatres give the viewers enough notice to get ready to stand up for the National Anthem, so even if the senior citizen were to say, “by the time I get up, it would be time to sit down again” may not be true at all.
I pray, should I grow to be her age and go for the movies, that I am able to stand up for the National Anthem. No matter what.
February 10th, 2011 at 10:50 pmnational anthem has a purpose, system, methodology, which are well defined. whether sung by hariharan or latha mangeshkar, or an ordinary citizen like me, this should be kept in mind. it is like the use of national flag. no one should make a replica of a national flag by altering its proportions and design elements, which are structured. the movies which we see, which i call stand-up necessities are not of these structure. they are expressions of a.r. rahman or some other composer. i call them expressive national anthem renderings. if you like them, stand up. its ok. if you think, its not necessary, you could sit. its not at all criminal or indecent. i believe, it has nothing to do with patriotism. but if you happen to attend a march or any ceremony where as a part, the national anthem is played in the exact method; time, lyrics, music, with or without instruments and vocals, you need to stand up if you are under the roof. i think it is not applied to movie halls.i also would like to say that i have a strong feel, like any one else, for my country and that doesn’t need public validation.
March 7th, 2011 at 6:12 amDuring the britons 200 years era,we would have done things even if we were reluctant to do that coz there was a fear acted upon us of going into bad books of the british empire. Over sixty years the britons left our country but we still didnt get rid of that habit yet. So if we cant change our habit, it makes no sense for the government to just sit back and let the citizen’s do whatever they want. I think it is high time for the government to crack the whip, a regulation should be issued for all the citizen’s to give the required respect to the country and to the national anthem. Any violation to that should lead to severe constitutional penalty.
October 4th, 2011 at 3:26 amWe are born citizen’s, we dont have to earn our citizenship, we just have to take a snap and we were presented the indian citizenship card. Nothing comes for free we need to know that. I am proud of being an indian, i stand up whenever i hear our national anthem. I felt hurt when somebody disrespect our national anthem or our country. I came to know from a fellow colleague of mine that during a seventh grade viva exam, a teacher asked a student who is the lyricist of our national anthem???? Dont get shocked when you hear the answer that kid gave…. He told that it was A.R. Rahman. So you could see why every respectable citizen has to wary about this issue???????
I really don’t understand are you guys really sick… I mean is it so difficult that you have to debate on National Anthem to be played or not before a movie… In a day( You dont go for movies everyday) is it that difficult to show some respect for your soil for 52seconds by just standing….??? Soldiers die every day fighting at the borders and we here the youth is debating that its right or not right to stand up before the movie??? You would watch a cricket match in the stadium standing to get a glims of your fav player… but before a movie to stand for a national anthem a debate… All I can say I’m ashamed…
November 25th, 2011 at 4:35 pm