Upala KBR hitlist@ mid- day. com Manoj Bajpayee, who acted in The Family Man, one of last yearu2019s big hits on the web, has kicked off 2020 with Gandhi: A Perspective, a short film on Mahatma Gandhi.
u201c The young generation has almost no idea about Gandhijiu2019s contribution or his teachings,u201d rues Bajpayee, who is seen explaining the leaderu2019s principle of non- violence to his teenage son in the film.
Over the past few weeks, the country has become a cauldron of unrest, with the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University and anti- CAA protestors being attacked.
Asserting that dissent holds a vital place in a democracy, Bajpayee says that Gandhian principles are all the more relevant today. u201c Violence has no place in a civilised society. Only non- violence, discourse and debate will win in the end. Itu2019s important that we hear the studentsu2019 point of view and understand them. We are at a stage where people are intolerant of each otheru2019s views, and discourse is diminishing. This is the time for all Indians to remember Gandhijiu2019s [ principles]u2014 ahimsa, debate, and satyagraha.u201d Recently, Saif Ali Khan ( inset) stated that he did not agree with the politics of his latest release, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, thus sparking a debate on whether actors should back content they do not align with, only in the hope of a box- office success. Fortunately, Bajpayee says the ideals presented in the Subhash Ghai- directed movie resonate with him.
u201c I donu2019t know what Saif has said nor have I seen Tanhaji. All I will say is that if the politics of a film disturb me, I would never do itu2014 no matter how great the script. If Iu2019m not in complete agreement with [ the idea presented in the script], at least, it shouldnu2019t shake me up completely or make me feel that I am doing something I donu2019t believe in,u201d he states, before adding a disclaimer.
u201c At the end of the day, if the script is engaging, is not hurting your morality too much, and you know that it will be viewed only as a film, I donu2019t think thereu2019s harm in doing it.u201d Violence has no place in a civilised society. Only nonviolence, discourse and debate will win in the end A still from Gandhi: A Perspective
