A screengrab from the video. A screengrab from the video.

From historians to scientists to filmmakers, the last two month have seen intellectuals return awards granted to them by organisations associated with the government in protest against what is widely being termed as ‘growing intolerance’ in the Indian society.

It has also seen a counter protest — ‘March For India’ — led by filmmaker Anupam Kher who claims there exists no intolerance in the country.

Kher’s March For India, interestingly, came days after the Congress party led a protest march to President Pranab Mukherjee’s residence urging him to impress upon Prime Minister Modi the need for him to rein in motormouths in his Cabinet.

While Kher got a sitting with Prime Minister Modi, his anti anti-intolerance protest, however, turned ugly, with at least one journalist being heckled, forcing Kher to apologise for the incident.

The latest protest against the ‘anti-nationals’ in the country, however, comes from another filmmaker – Vivek Sharma.

“Khehta filmkar hai — banata hai sex aur dhokha,” says the first line of the video by Sharma, whose has directed one film, the Amitabh Bachchan starrer ‘Bhootnath’. The video calls out the “hypocrisy” of India’s ‘pseudo-intellectuals’, filmmakers, journalists and stars (read Shah Rukh Khan).

The two-and-a-half minute ‘protest song’ titled ‘Dhikkar Hai’ slams two-time national film award winner Dibakar Banerjee, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the several Sahitya Akademi award winners who have returned their awards, journalists, and anti-nationals, questioning their achievements and contribution to society. Sharma further calls for them to be boycotted. By whom, for what, and how, he doesn’t make clear.

Here’s an excerpt from the lyrics of the ‘protest song’

Kehta filmkar hai — banata hai sex aur dhokha,

aur dhunta hai publicity ka mauka;

Kehta superstar hai, kis baat ka khan?

Badalte rishton ke dastaan;

Aur tu khehta hai sahityakar hai, kya hai tera sahitya?

kya hai tera daitwa?

Kalam se kya parivartan laya?

Kis gareeb ke ghar barkat laya?

Interestingly, this is not the first ‘political’ video that Sharma has directed.

In 2014, days before the general assembly elections, Sharma released a video titled “Naro mein Indra hai” praising then Chief Minister and BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi for his ‘achievements’ in Gujarat.

Part of the 2014 video spoke of religious tolerance in the nation if Narendra Modi was elected to power. “Sabhi dharmo ka samaan hoga, seene mein ek Hindustan hoga,” lyrics of the promotional song read.

Watch both the videos below

Watch: Dhikkaar hai



Watch: Naro Mein Indra Hai

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