Supreme Court directs Theatres to play National Anthem.

Rabindranath Tagore, wrote and sang National Anthem of India, for the first time in Calcutta, Congress meeting in 1911. The song, Jana Gana Mana, written in Bengali, along with Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, became the patriotic symbol of United India in its fight against British rule for Freedom. After Independence, in 1950 constitution adopted both the songs as National Anthem and National song. National Anthem in its original verses should be sung for 52 seconds and it should be recognized by every Indian citizen by Attention posture, standing up.

Eveb though it isn’t compulsory it is advised to be standing up saluting to the National Flag during the flag hoisting and whenever played out of respect. Today, Supreme Court decided to make it compulsory for all Theatres to play the National Anthem before screening, followed by showing the National Flag. The directive was given after hearing the PIL, filed by a lawyer to take strict measures for spreading the awareness among the younger generations to respect the National Anthem and Flag, who are getting highly influenced by Western Culture.

We can welcome such a directive but making it compulsory for Theatres to play it before screening and forcing people to stand up who were constitutionally subjected to give the respect or protest in their own way. It becomes a show piece of dramatisation and subject of forced patriotism. Earlier, Supreme Court only said, National Anthem cannot be dramatised or become a tool for showing patriotism. But with his directive, Supreme Court just did a 360 on its earlier words. Well, if younger generations needed to be told about prominence then may be there should be other ways to promote but this seems too unhealthy precedent.

Also, do SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to get latest Tollywood updates.