The Hollywood director is not pleased with the in your face anti-smoking film played in Indian movie theatres. Indian filmmakers like Gyan Correa, Shoojit Sircar, Santosh Sivan and Bejoy Nambiar react to Woody Allen’s decision
Woody Allen won’t release his latest work Blue Jasmine in India. He’s objected to the anti-smoking film and warning that the government of India, in all its wisdom, insists on inserting into all films. The film fraternity in India reacts.
Shoojit Sircar
“I am glad Woody Allen took a stand. Those visuals are disturbing for viewers.”
Gyan Correa
“Personally I am against any kind of coercion or censorship. We pay a price for crimes we don’t commit. Like most Indians, I don’t even smoke!”
Santosh Sivan
“I think Woody Allen has a point. It is unfair to subject us to this footage. But I guess we live in a society where people are shown murdering, raping, taking drugs on screen. All these evils seem permissible as they don’t come with any warning. I am reminded of a foreigner friend in India who shocked onlookers by kissing his wife on the road. The same people ignored people attending nature’s call in full public view. I think we need to examine the people who make these rules. Rahul Gandhi should question the people who made the anti-smoking footage mandatory before and during every film. I’d like to see captions saying, ‘Please don’t bomb public places. It is injurious to health.’ Censorship should not be discriminatory.”
Bejoy Nambiar
“That is completely Woody Allen’s call. I am completely anti-smoking. So I’ve no problem with the statutory warning. I just wish the video was shorter.”
Kabir Bedi
“I agree with Woody Allen completely. The anti-smoking video spoils the movie-viewing experience that we pay for. Will the government stamp warnings on the text of books where characters smoke?”
A Rajamouli
“Hope Woody Allen’s heroic act drills some sense into those insensitive elements which thought of the ghastly anti-smoking video. I almost puked when I first watched the video. All the smokers all around me watched the footage of cancerous mouths nonchalantly. It ruins my cinema-going experience every single time.”