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For Oscar, RDB banks on universal appeal, Aamir Khan
Producers of Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra's blockbuster Rang De Basanti (RDB), India's official entry for the best foreign film category for Oscar 2007

'Rang De Basanti' India's entry for Oscar
Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra's blockbuster Rang De Basanti has been selected as India's official entry for the best foreign film category for Oscar Awards 2007

Gujarat Brahmin group approaches police against Aamir
Ahmedabad, An organisation of Brahmins in Gujarat has approached police in connection with the death of Pravin Joshi who burnt himself to death to protest the screening of "Fanaa" as it stars Aamir Khan.

'Fanaa' ban: Bollywood closes ranks behind Aamir
Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, May 29 (IANS) Aamir Khan, whose latest film "Fanaa" has been boycotted in Gujarat following his remarks on the Narmada dam, Monday received support from Bollywood with many film personalities expressing their solidarity with the actor. 

Industry honchos, including directors Subhash Ghai, Ramesh Sippy, J.P. Dutta, Pahlaj Nihalani, David Dhavan, Ashutosh Gowariker, Sudhir Mishra, and actors Anupam Kher and Anil Kapoor, came together to protest the virtual ban on the film in Gujarat.

"We understand that the stand he has taken is for a worthy cause and I hope the industry stays together on other issues in the future too," Kher said at a joint press conference here. 

Multiplex and cinema owners in Gujarat decided not to screen the film, released elsewhere in the country Friday, following a call from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to boycott the film starring Khan.

The move followed Khan's remarks against the Sardar Sarovar dam project on the Narmada river in the state. While the project is seen as a lifeline for drought-prone parts of the state, Khan had last month voiced his concern for farmers and tribals whose lands would be submerged due to the dam.

Showman Ghai said: "Aamir is paying the price for being a celebrity. He has said nothing different from what the Supreme Court has said (on the rehabilitation of the project-affected people). A film's release has nothing to do with an actor's stand on a social issue." 

The Mumbai film industry's stand comes two days after Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan defended Khan. 

Bachchan said Saturday that he believed the matter should be solved through the legal process. "According to the constitution of India, freedom of expression and freedom of speech is there. Everybody has the right to do that," Bachchan said.

"Fanaa" producer and noted director Yash Chopra said: "I am facing a loss of Rs.10 million a day because of the ban on 'Fanaa'. I met (Gujarat) Chief Minister Narendra Modi and tried to convince him that it was a question of Aamir's personal views and had nothing to do with my film." 
 

Ahmedabad's video libraries boycott Aamir's films
Indo-Asian News Service

Ahmedabad, May 29 (IANS) After Gujarat's associations of multiplexes and theatres, a city video library association here Monday evening announced their boycott of the films of the Bollywood star Aamir Khan.

About 25 members of the video library association of Ahmedabad staged demonstration and burned copies of the VCDs and DVDs of the Hindi film star declaring that they would hence forth not circulate any of Aamir's films. 

"We will neither give the VCDs or DVDs of Aamir Khan's new as well as old films on rent nor sell them until the film star apologise before Gujarat government," said Jyot Vagjiyani, the president of Ahmedabad Video Library Association. 

"Aamir Khan is an actor. He must bear this in mind that he is not a politician. He is trying to become a politician by indulging in the Narmada issue," he added.

Meanwhile, Aamir Khan's new release Fanaa was stopped from screening in the state following his advocacy for the proper rehabilitation of the under construction Narmada dam oustees.
  

I spoke for poor farmers, no apologies: Aamir
Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, May 25 (IANS) Aamir Khan said Thursday that he will not apologise for "speaking for poor farmers" affected by the Narmada dam project and criticised Gujarat's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that has called for a boycott of his latest film "Fanaa" in the state.

"I am doing my job. The BJP is doing its job. I spoke for the rehabilitation of poor farmers who lost their lands - if the BJP wants me to apologise for speaking out for them, then I won't because I don't think I have said anything wrong," the actor told reporters here.

"Fanaa", set for a worldwide release Friday, will not be screened in Gujarat as the state's multiplex and cinema owners decided against releasing the film after a boycott call given by the youth wing of the BJP and supported by the opposition Congress.

Amit Thacker, the BJP youth wing president in Gujarat, said any film starring Khan would be allowed to be screened in the state only after Khan apologised for his remarks.

Senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra told reporters in New Delhi: "We can end this row if he (Khan) apologises to the people of Gujarat." 

However, the actor was not budging from his stand.

"I have never commented on the construction of the dam in particular. I want that Gujarat and its neighbouring states receive more water. But at the same time, I also want that all those farmers who have lost their land (due to the dam project) should be rehabilitated first. 

"And I am saying what the Supreme Court has said in its verdict. Do you think the Supreme Court should also apologise?"

Khan had last month expressed solidarity with the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) that has been opposing the Sardar Sarovar dam project on the Narmada river in the state. He demanded proper rehabilitation of those displaced by the dam, even as the project is seen as the "lifeline" for the state's drought-prone parts.

He later criticised the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat for a communal skirmish in Vadodara this month that claimed six lives.

"If the political party thinks that banning my film is the right decision, they can go ahead with it. I love the people of the Gujarat and I will feel bad for them because they will not get to see my film."

He appealed to the people of the state to come forward and join hands with him.

"I want all of them to come forward and speak for these (project-affected) people. I don't think there is any Indian who would like to see his countrymen suffering. Instead of criticising me, I think the people of Gujarat should appreciate the efforts I am making for the farmers.

"If anybody will convince me that what I have said is wrong, I will apologise. But I can't do that because if I do so, I would be letting down all those farmers for whom I am fighting this battle."

"The BJP is a very powerful party, they can do anything but I am least bothered. I will not change my stand," he added.
 

Gujarat BJP demands Aamir's apology
Indo-Asian News Service

Ahmedabad, May 15 (IANS) Gujarat's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP Monday sought an apology from Bollywood star Aamir Khan for making "insulting statements" while criticising the law and order situation in the state following communal clashes in Vadodara this month.

"Gujarat is progressing at double the speed of other states in the country and people here feel more secure since the last assembly elections," BJP spokesperson Purushottam Rupala asserted in a statement.

Aamir had Sunday criticised Chief Minister Narendra Modi's government for its failure to contain communal violence in Vadodara, 110 km from here.

Six persons were killed in police firing and ensuing communal violence after Vadodara's civic authorities bulldozed a 300-year-old Muslim shrine in its anti-encroachment drive.

"Aamir Khan should stop disturbing the peaceful situation in the state by making comments aimed to get cheap publicity," Rupala said.

The popular film star had last month invited the wrath of the Gujarat BJP by expressing solidarity with the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), protesting the ongoing construction at the Saradar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river in the state, alleging violation of the project-affected people's rights.