Save parallel cinema
The article “Any takers for serious cinema” (July 8) was thought provoking. Films are about business and money today. A film with dances and catchy numbers is a great success at the box office. Television has eaten into the profits of films and this will accelerate further. But there is a ray of hope. Just as interest in Ghazals revived, it is possible that serious cinema may stage a comeback.
Dr. B R Gupta,
Tiruchengode
Being an avid appreciator of parallel cinema, I feel bad to know that quality cinema is slowly fading away. What is needed is a change in stereotypical mindsets. This is where the A-list actors can help by becoming a part of such films, which also need to be well publicised to attract attention. Though in the last couple of years there has been a shift in the tastes of urban audiences. There is an increasing percentage who not only watch but also relish meaningful cinema.
Ankur Paliwal,
A.M.U., Aligarh
Ziya us Salam’s article pointed to the declining space for parallel cinema. The onus for it depends on the viewers. Bollywood masala dominates our minds. Indeed, as rightly said, we do talk about good movies but we are not ready to watch good movies. It is high time that we gave due space to parallel cinema.
Amna Mirza,
Delhi
Ziya us Salam’s lament on the fate of parallel cinema is symbolic of Economics winning over Art. Since the media is commercialised and driven by economic motives, it is no wonder the audience prefers blockbusters to the art films because the media moulds public opinion. TV channels are petrified of losing their audience due to competition. This compels them to yield to the taste of an average audience rather than taking the risk of telecasting art films.
Shivakumar Pavate,
Banahatti, Karnataka
Doors of faith
Shashi Tharoor’s “Nature of the faith” (July 8) has universal relevance. His statement “Hinduism is about opening doors to God and not closing them to people” applies to every religion. In the Bible, there is the beautiful picture of a gentle Jesus standing at the door of every human heart and knocking, asking for permission to enter. Tagore wrote, “When my beggarly heart sits crouched, shut up in a corner; break open the door, my King, and come with the ceremony of a king” (Gitanjali). Such is the true relationship between God and the faithful. The priestly domination in every organised religion is a cause for concern.
Dr. R. Jayakaran Isaac,
Vellore
Hinduism received a devastating blow when the priests of the Guruvayur temple performed the purification ceremony. All right-thinking Hindus would have done themselves a significant service had they unanimously condemned this blatant assault on their religion. Throughout its long existence, Hinduism has produced reformers who have retrieved their religion from the grip of the ultra-orthodox and blindly conservative elements. It is time for Hinduism to undergo yet another purge.
T.S. Pattabhi Raman,
Coimbatore
The author has rightly pointed out how unfair it is to disallow non-Hindus into the precincts of the Guruvayur temple. During the devastating fire that broke out at the temple on November 29,1970, thousands of people — Hindus, Muslims and Christians — rushed to the temple in the dead of night and fought the furious fire as members of one family. This exemplified the universality of the Lord.
Dr. Uma Raja,
Tiruchi
A notable point is that the controversy exclusively involves celebrities. Many people, following different religions, have no difficulty visiting and worshipping at Guruvayur. The priests are perhaps too hidebound to sense those religions and faiths, as the people go quietly in and out of the temple.
Devraj Sambasivan,
Alleppey
Shashi Tharoor is wrong when he says “around the world anyone can walk into a place of worship — a cathedral, synagogue, a mosque”, as in countries like Saudi Arabia a non-Muslim is not allowed to enter Mecca. The author also skips the larger issue of opening “Hindu temples” to Dalits. The fact that the caste Hindus are getting away with this shows that we have not matured as a civilised society though we call ourselves one of the oldest civilisations in the world.
K. Vijay Iyer,
Mayiladuthurai
The article discussed the need to change traditional rules of entry to Guruvayur temple. Only in the middle of the 20th century were all Hindus allowed into Kerala temples. Till then it was the privilege of upper caste Hindus. By admitting lower castes, the temples have not suffered. Similarly by permitting those who believe in this faith, irrespective of their born religion, the temples will prosper.
O. Balakrishnan Nair,
Vellinazhi, Kerala
