Topic started by L.L.dass (@ 203.125.140.10) on Fri Oct 31 03:25:50 EST 2003.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.
When some fans turn fiends - News Today
A fan of actor Vijay was killed in a clash over putting up
banners of the star's Diwali release film Thirumalai outside a
theatre in Karaikudi.
In Pondicherry, Ajit fans went on the rampage and destroyed
200 seats, ceiling fans and screen of a theatre when the management
refused to repeat an action scene from the film Anjaneya.
These may seem isolated instances of hero worship getting
out of hand. But in Tamilnadu, it is not. On the other hand, it is a
typical manifestation of the hold that film stars have over the
masses and their (fans) unbridled loyalty to their heroes. After
all, this is the State that has had Chief Ministers from the
filmworld for the last 30 odd years.
In the recent past, fans have gone overboard and indulged in
such acts which have prove to be a nuisance not only for themselves
and also to others.
The release of a leading actor's movie in Tamilnadu is
inevitably marked by vociferous fans raising slogans carrying their
favourite star's portrait, distributing sweets, performing pal
abhishekam to cutouts. A festive atmosphere would be witnessed in
theatres where the movies are screened.
However, today, violence seems to have taken over these
celebrations and a sense of hatred tends to prevail among fans.
Speaking on this, a regular moviegoer says, this is not a
new trend witnessed among fans. It has been there ever since the
days of M G Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. In between, this sort
of crazy behaviour took a backseat thanks to the advent of satellite
channels and pirated VCDs. However, the current year has seen the
Tamil film industry enjoy a few hits and has succeeded in bringing
back audience to the theatres.
This is where the problem started again.
At a theatre in Dharmapuri, actor Surya's fans objected to a
larger cutout of Vikram put up in front of a theatre screening
Pithamagan. Police personnel were summoned and the morning show had
to be cancelled on the opening day.
Actor Dhanush, who returned after shooting abroad for his
forthcoming movie Pudukottailirundhu Saravanan was rushed to a
hospital in Chennai, Wednesday, after he slipped and fell when fans
mobbed him at a park.
'Going to theatres has become a costly affair. When we take
the entire family unmindful of the expenses for the sake of an
enjoyable evening, such crazy behaviour by fans upsets us. Theatres
have become an unsafe place to be with the families these days',
says another movie-goer.
In a theatre where more than 500 people watch a film,
troublemakers are just a handful. But they spoil the entertainment
of the majority. The troublemakers, mostly youths, fail to
understand that by indulging in such acts for the sake of their
stars and end up spoiling their future.
Certainly, fans have the desire to meet and greet their
favourite stars, but they have understand that actors and actresses
are human, he adds.
Another film-buff recalls the hype surrounding Rajnikanth's
Baba, released last year. The fans waited in long queues (all night
to book tickets). They performed pal abhishekam and carried his
portraits in palanquins. A few went even further, shaving their
heads praying for the film to be a successful one.
A crazy fan of actor Murali used to write on walls equating
him to God, wherever he went. One cannot forget that fans built a
temple for actress Kushboo, when she was in the limelight a few
years ago.
Rational thinking, common sense and understanding that
cinema is a medium of entertainment alone would help the situation.
But ironically, the so called rational movement in
Tamilnadu, the Dravidian movement, had used the filmdom and its
attendant baggage, to further its cause.
- M Bharat Kumar
http://newstodaynet.com/30oct/ss3.htm
Tell your friend about this topic