Countries usually have two kinds of approaches towards their national symbols. For some countries, using the nation's flag's colours or emblem everywhere is a way of showing love for their country. The maple leaf of Canada can be found everywhere there, including McD Canads's logo. In Mauritius, official files are tied with a ribbon that has the four colours of the Mauritian flag. People take pride in associating themselves with the symbols, and wearing an underwear with your flag's motif may as well be a sign of patriotism, not of insult. The national anthem's tune, or parts thereof, may be used in movies, for example. Pink Panther 1 had a small portion of La Marseillaise (French National Anthem), played when Jacques Clouseau makes the press statement about being confident of catching the diamond thief.
The second approach is of course, where you raise national symbols to a sacred level, so sacrosanct that they can't be treated as normal. India is a perfect example of this category. There is an elaborate Flag Code that is law-enforced and there are rules about how, when and where to sing or not sing the National Anthem. Using the colours of the flag for design will be frowned upon (and perhaps even punished, depending on the use) and people will tell you off for even humming the national anthem if you do so without being Petrificus Totallus-ed. Individuals weren't even allowed to display the flag on homes and other buildings until 2001 when Navin Jindal won a court case giving us all that right. All in all, it's a strict world here, and we pride ourselves at being excellent watchdogs of our national symbols. And of course, alleged abuses of the same are excellent political masala, especially if they involve kewl mass media (MTV tricolor logo case) or mass theism (Sachin Tendulkar case).
Now, a country might choose whatever approach it wants regarding its symbols, and though I prefer the first one slightly, I respect India's stance and shall abide by it. This brings me to the simple question - Of all places, why does one want to randomly play the National Anthem at the movie hall? Not standing erect while singing it is an insult, but sandwiching it between random movie trailers, advertisements, dhoomrapaan mana hai notices and a movie apparently isn't, and only serves to infuse patriotic sentiments into wayward teens.
I mean, I absolutely don't mind it, and I wish I could sit on my chair and play the National Anthem in the peaceful, dignified, serene setting of my room (yes, my room's very clean, thank you very much) without having neighbours scowling and frowning and calling me unpatriotic or rude. But it seems to me very weird that a country that has a special amendment to explicitly forbid use of the national flag in any clothing below the waist does not find it insulting if the national anthem is played in a movie setting, possibly even an Adult-movie. So much so that we even had a politician fighting to make it compulsory for movie theatres to play the national anthem.
Does anyone see any sensible reason why?
Also, why does no one take offence to this excellent composition, in which people are not standing in attention, not even the vocalists (the instrumentalists can be given leverage as they need to play their stuff)?
18 people weren't lazy:
I love the version of the National anthem played at the movie halls.
This practise is not uniform throughout India though. PVR and Inox in Bangalore did not play the national anthem before the movie till about a few months back.
I never understood the concept of playing the National anthem before screening Shrek though.
Of course, I love the version too. And I am fine with it being screened.
All I am saying is that I find it weird given the general "sacred" attitude towards symbols.
Only serves to infuse patriotic sentiments into wayward teens.
Them, and kids who've just learned it.
I completely appreciate it being played before, say, Lagaan but dubious before, say, DevD.
I remember my mother telling me they used to play the national anthem during her childhood before movies were screened. Maybe it is just a revival of 'tradition.'
Earlier the anthem was played once the movie is over but people used to walk away. That was more insulting. I felt it good when I heard National anthem in movie hall at Nagpur. It was new to me as in Jodhpur this tradition is not followed.
There are people who would not remember the National Anthem if it were not played before the movies. And if a simple step like this goes a long way to make them learn it, I think its a good move.
1. News Article
2. I don't think the version played even abides by the laws, 52 seconds it was, right? And I personally dont like that version either, too depressing.
3. And actually it doesnt really matter to me what movie I am going to see after it. But, I cant get the exact rationale behind the NYC move to get the theaters being ORDERED to play it in Maharashtra.
far from eye, far from heart...................................................
當我微笑時，世界和我一起微笑；當我快樂時，世界和我一起活躍。..................................................
這麼優的部落格，不踩一下不開心..................................................................
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. ............................................................
男女互悅，未必廝守終生，相愛就是美的。.................................................................
這不過是滑一跤，並不是死掉而爬不起來了。..................................................
在你一無所有的時候 是誰在陪伴你 他便是你最重要的人......................................................................
成功多屬於那些很快做出決定，卻又不輕易變更的人。而失敗也經常屬於那些很難做出決定，卻又經常變更的人....................................................． ............
噴泉的高度，不會超過它的源頭。一個人的事業也是如此，它的成就絕不會超過自己的信念。........................................． ........................
這一生中有多少人擦肩而過？而朋友是多麼可貴啊！......................................................................
善言能贏得聽眾，善聽才能贏得朋友。......................................................................
說「吃虧就是便宜的人」，多半不是吃虧的人。......................................................................
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