People's Democracy

STUDENTS under the banner of the city-girls convening committee of SFI resorted to direct action protesting against screening of obscene films in theatres in Hyderabad. Around hundred students, both girls and boys, gatecrashed into two theatres at Kachiguda on December 23rd to register their protest against screening of obscene films. They raised slogans demanding ban on obscene films and criticising the Censor Board for shirking its responsibility.

The management of Tarakarama theatre attempted to obstruct the students from entering into the theatre, but the students forced their way inside the hall and raised slogans in a big way. Not knowing what was happening, the terrified viewers in the theatre ran helter-skelter and left the theatre within no time. The police intimidated the agitating students by warning them of dire consequences if their agitation was not peaceful. The students questioned the police as to why they were keeping quiet when obscene films were being screened in the theatre. When the police attempted to resort to lathicharge, the students tore off the posters and hoardings. They sprayed water mixed with cowdung on the obscene posters. The students rushed into the cabin of the theatre and searched for the film reels but by then the management had already removed and hid them.

Thereafter the students rushed towards the nearby Padmavathi 35 mm theatre, which was screening yet another obscene film. Here, too, a similar scene was created and the viewers left the theatre. The staff of the theatre tried to prevent the students from entering into the cabin but failed. Girl students entered into the cabin, took out the film reels and burnt them in front of the theatre. The management of the theatre tried to pacify the students by promising not to screen such obscene films again but could not succeed.

With slogan-raising students destroying the cutouts and hoardings of the obscene film outside the theatre and spraying cowdung water, the film-watchers running out of the theatre, and the lathi-wielding police rushing to the scene, a tense situation developed.

Criticising the failure of the Chandrababu Naidu government and the police in curbing the screening of obscene films and the questionable role of the Censor officials, all India convenor of the girls committee of SFI, Mamata said the government turned a deaf ear to repeated appeals of the SFI to ban screening of obscene films. The blatant screening of obscene films had its adverse impact on the society and the incidents of ragging, eve-teasing, rapes and molestation are increasing. In view of the failure of the government, the SFI had to resort to direct action, she said. Contrary to the regulations of the government, bars and wine shops were set up nearby educational institutions. If they were not removed, the SFI would agitate against them as well, she warned.