(Note: Hansal Mehta’s Aligarh was given an ‘A’ certificate by the CBFC because of its theme (homosexuality). The filmmaker has not accepted the ‘Adults Only’ certification and has approached the tribunal for a revision. The film’s trailer too was certified ‘A’ by the Certification Board.)
Dear Pahlaj Nihalani,
This letter is in appreciation of your films. Let me begin with Andaz. This film released in the year 1994 and did good business. After all the film was produced by you and directed by David Dhawan, who was on a roll in that era. What I loved about the film was the candidness. I am sure, as a producer of this magnum opus, this was one of your religious endeavours.
As a true propagator of Hinduism, you named one of your characters Saraswati. Saraswati played by Juhi Chawla was Ajay Kumar’s wife. I loved when you showed the unclenching love between Ajay and Saraswati through the fantastic song – Khada Hai Khada Hai, Khada Hai, Dar Pe Tere Aashiq Khada Hai. Ram Ram Ram Ram! It almost sounded like a hymn.
In a story of divine love like this, I know you meant to tell us that it was god who was waiting outside the door. Imagine, Saraswati opening the door for you. I was just absorbing every bit of your divine emotions in the film, when Saraswati comes in wearing an orange saree singing her part. It was almost like a blast of Hindu confetti.
She sings “Khula hai khula hai khula hai, dil ka darwaza khula hai”, I know what you meant. I know that you wanted to tell us that mother nature, the divine goddess is having her door open for bhakts. How much I love you for all the shraddha and bhakti you have shown with this just one small song.
This was not all. I loved the next song “Main maal gaadi tu dhakka lagaa”, it was like a tribute to the old goods train. I think the reel of this song deserves a sacred corner of place in a museum.
I love your cinematic alliteration and simile and metaphor, I am sure that you meant that a woman is the carrier of all good things. Those who ridicule you for this song are dumb, they know not, your prudence and your radiance, and your deep-rooted dharmik views behind songs like Khada hai, and Maal gaadi.
I have to tell you that this is not recent. I have been a connoisseur of your films since I watched your masterpiece which starts with A, Aankhen. Here again, you showed your utmost devotion, by having the screen name of Govinda as Gauri Shankar. Wah wah! And then, the song, “Angna mein baba, duvaare pe maa, kaise aaye gori, hum tohre ghar maa…”, it alerted women about safety.
The song ended with “Haath mera maangnee ko aaja baalma” which means “come, ask my hand in marriage, darling”. So, basically, it upheld the Indian value system.
In the light of these things, I think it is good that you gave our friend Hansal Mehta’s film Aligarh an ‘A’ certificate.
What role does such a film have, which depicts the evils of the society? It neither has a song like Khada hai, nor any Angnaa or Baba. Songs like those, are worthy enough to be blasted on TV a thousand billion times. I remember vividly, it ran on top charts of SuperHit Muqaabla in those days. Every child sang this song. Every child danced to the tune of these songs.
And what’s Aligarh? It just has one old man, who is in search of his identity. Director Hansal Mehta and screenwriter Apurva Asrani could take their film to Cannes or any videshi festival. I agree with you the youth of our nation doesn’t deserve Aligarh.
Yours truly,
A Tolerant Indian.
(Harish Iyer is an equal rights activist working for the rights of the LGBT community, women, children and animals.)
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