Film industry speaks up on national anthem issue

Don't test anyone's patriotism by making it mandatory for cinema halls to play the national anthem, say film fraternity members who feel respect for the "Jana gana mana" should be natural.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to take a call on the playing of the national anthem in public places, including cinema halls.

The wording of a November 2016 order on the issue might be modified so that cinema halls "may" -- instead of "shall" -- play the national anthem before the start of movies.

This sparked a debate, leading film fraternity members like Kamal Haasan, Javed Akhtar and Raj Nayak, to express their opinion.

Here's what they had tweeted:

Javed Akhtar: Something is seriously wrong with those Indians who don't get touched and don't feel any reverence when they hear the national anthem. It really pains me that some people are trying to undermine the dignity of our national anthem.

Kamal Haasan: Singapore plays its national anthem every midnight. Likewise, do so on DD. Do not force or test my patriotism at various random places.

Arvind Swamy: I will always stand up for our national anthem and sing along, which I do with great pride. Never understood why it was mandatory and cinema halls only.

Adnan Sami khan: Hey, it's the national anthem; GET UP... PERIOD! Go argue about something else! 'Where' the national anthem should play is another matter; but whenever or wherever it is played, get up and respect it. From the heart -- Not sleeve!

Vivek Agnihotri: If I remember correctly, in the 1970s and even in the 1980s, national anthem played at the end of the movie and everyone stood without questioning it. Today, we question everything even if it's not disputable.

Ananth Mahadevan: The 60s: All stood respectfully for the national anthem played after the movie. No discussion. Today: everything has to be an issue!

Raj Nayak: Before this order, I used to find people willingly standing up for the national anthem and singing happily. Making it mandatory ruined it.

Raghu Ram: I stand up for the national anthem because I give it the love and respect that it is due. Not because some government forces me to.