It is known that the comments made by veteran director S.S. Rajamouli at the recent ‘Globe Trotter’ event held at Ramoji Film City have led to a huge controversy on social media. Many Hindu groups and political leaders are unnecessarily criticizing his personal comments that he does not believe in God and saying that our ‘sentiments have been hurt’. Many people who claim to be the protectors of Sanatana Dharma, as well as BJP leaders, are strongly demanding that Rajamouli immediately apologize for his comments. An organization called Vanara Sena has also filed a complaint with the police against Rajamouli’s words.
However, the controversy over Rajamouli’s comments regarding his personal beliefs has once again brought the state of freedom of speech in India into question. Public intellectuals and analysts are expressing serious concerns over turning a famous person’s personal opinion into such a big controversy.
Rajamouli’s statement that he lacks faith in God, and his disappointment when he says that it would be better to think of God when a technical problem arises, is entirely a matter of his personal freedom of expression. Although Rajamouli did not insult anyone in this regard, there is a strong opinion that it is not appropriate to unnecessarily politicize his personal opinion or give it a religious color.
There are many instances in the history of Indian cinema where films were made on the prejudices and superstitions of all religions and were criticized. Some feel that it is sad that opinions that were freely expressed then are now controversial. These developments indicate a fear that in the future, even the smallest religious comments will be considered a threat to freedom of expression. The fact that a famous person in the country talks about their personal beliefs, but turns it into such a big controversy, raises a key question: is freedom of expression declining in India?
