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Piqued Husain withdraws Meenaxi TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2004 01:01:44 AM ] MUMBAI: Painter and film-maker M F Husain has decided to stop the screening of his latest film Meenaxi —The Tale of Three Cities. Criticised by some Muslim organisations in the city for a song in the film, 'noor-un-ala-noor' , the maverick painter said, "I have spoken to Yash Raj Films, who are distributors of the movie. We will pull out the film from theatres nationwide." Refusing to explain why he was giving in to pressure from religious groups, he said, "It is my film. I have written, directed and produced it. So, it is my right to do anything I please with it. I have decided to stop its screening and I will do just that." The All India Muslim Council and some other Muslim organisations had objected to the lyrics of the song penned by Husain himself The All India Muslim Council and some other Muslim organisations in the city had objected to the lyrics of the song penned by Husain himself. According to Maulana Abdul Quddus Kashmiri, secretary of the Council, the words 'noor-un-ala-noor' (which stand for 'light of the superior kind' in Arabic) describe Prophet Mohammed. "The phrase has been lifted from the text of the Holy Quran. In the film, it describes the heroine's beauty," he said. Terming the song 'blasphemous', Kashmiri said, "It hurts the sentiments of Muslims." An official of Yash Raj Films who did not want to be named confirmed that the film had been pulled out. "We don't want to antagonise those who disapprove. Husain is also in no mood to aggravate matters. The film, which is being screened in a few city theatres and multiplexes, will run only until Thursday, after which it will be pulled out," he said. Meanwhile, actor Kunal Kapoor, who makes his debut in the film, is a tad disappointed with the turn of events. "I am naturally upset about the whole controversy. It is my first film and I wanted more people to see it," he said. However, he added, he would stand by the decision of the film-maker. "It is for Husainsaab to decide what he wants to do in the face of such pressure. I will surely support him, no matter what the consequences," he added. Poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar said he was at a loss to understand what the fuss was all about. "I feel that fundamentalists are over- reacting. It is indeed unfortunate that creative people like Husain get pulled up for the smallest of things. First, the VHP took issue with his nude paintings and now it is the turn of Muslim fundamentalists," he said. Pointing out that the phrase in question was in no way blasphemous, Akhtar said, "The Holy Quran is written in Arabic, which is a rich language. Why this hue and cry if a word like 'noor-un-ala-noor' is used to describe divine beauty? It may be used in the Holy Book to describe the Prophet, but really it is just another adjective." Courtesy:sankar_np" <sankar_np@yahoo.com> |
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