Watch 'Mulk' instead of calling me anti-Hindu based on trailer: Anubhav Sinha
Mumbai, July 18 : Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, who has reacted strongly to the trolls who have labelled him anti-Hindu based on the trailer of his forthcoming film "Mulk", says people should watch the full movie before making statements.
The trailer of "Mulk" released on July 9. Soon after, the director received various comments and reactions on the trailer. He says only 20 per cent of them were from trolls and the remaining were positive messages.
"In 80 per cent of the feedback, both the communities -- Hindus and Muslims -- are happy with the trailer and they are looking forward to the film. The fact is that a trailer is a glimpse... That is not the whole movie.
"That is like a half of the story shown in 2 minutes from a 2-hour films. So instead of calling me pro-Muslim or anti-Hindu, I think it is wise to find out the whole story from the film," Sinha told IANS here.
Featuring Rishi Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana, Neena Gupta, Taapsee Pannu and Prateik Babbar, and releasing on August 3, "Mulk" is a courtroom drama about restoring the honour of a Muslim family accused of treason.
After being accused of running propaganda to garner support and sympathy for Muslims through the film, Sinha hit out at trolls through an open letter.
Sharing the pity that he feels for trolls, Sinha told IANS: "Who are they? They are the youth of this country who are out of jobs and they are channelising their energy to become a professional abusers. These kids are undereducated and highly energetic with no productivity.
"Their restless energy has been misappropriated with something that they are told as nationalism. So now they live, breath, eat nationalism. It has become important to abuse anti-nationals for them. In reality, because there are not many anti-nationals who exist, they end up abusing those who do not adhere to their diktats.
"These kids are not well-informed about our political history, current affairs and just feed some wrong information that they believed as gospel truth."
Then also arises the question if the media is maintaining objectivity while reporting facts or capturing reality with an agenda, and how it can impact what will be the history of tomorrow, he says.
"I think history is always a viewpoint, and so are the reports you are reading every day. You, as a reader, as the youth of the nation, should have the intelligence to interpret history in the right manner. Why do you read history? Because it has a relevance to our present and our future. So, while reading, one has to take away that much and rest has no relevance in our life or in the upcoming time.
"Therefore, history needs to be intelligently interpreted, and if anything, we are going wrong there I guess."
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Rohit identifies Arshdeep, Hardik as key to India's chances in T20 World Cup
New Delhi (PTI): T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma reckons all-rounder Hardik Pandya and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh will hold the key to India's prospects in the upcoming edition of the tournament.
Defending champions India will enter the T20 showpiece as one of the overwhelming favourites due to their massive depth and quality.
Rohit highlighted Arshdeep's effectiveness with the new ball and at the death.
"It is a big positive to have both Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh together because they always attack for wickets. Arshdeep's biggest strength is swinging the new ball and taking early wickets. He mainly bowls with the new ball and at the death. Starting and finishing are the most important phases, and he is strong in both," Rohit told JioHotstar.
"With the new ball, he swings it to get left-handers caught in the slips and targets the pads of right-handers. He has also started taking the ball away from right-handers. These skills are key for a new-ball bowler. He always tries to take wickets, which is why he bowls the first over."
Rohit added, "In the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, he did a great job. I still remember he dismissed Quinton de Kock when he was set and batting well. In the 19th over, he gave away just two or three runs, which built pressure on the South Africans.
"That is his game, bowling with the new ball and at the death, and he will play a key role for India in the 2026 T20 World Cup."
India won the last edition of the tournament in the Americas under Rohit's captaincy, after which the dashing opener retired from the T20 format internationally.
Rohit also spoke about how Hardik's dual role as a finisher and multi-phase bowler provides crucial balance to the Indian team.
"Whenever Hardik Pandya is in the team, his role is huge. He bats and bowls very consistently. His batting is crucial when the team is stuck. If we have a score of 160 on the board in 15-16 overs and Hardik is batting, then he's the one who can help the team reach 210-220 from there or if we are 50 for 4, he has to build the innings.
"Batting in the middle order at 5, 6, or 7 is very tough. That is why Hardik's role is critical in any format. We know his bowling. He bowls in key phases, with the new ball, in the middle and in the death as well. His role is very important because he gives the team balance, letting us play six bowlers and keep our batting deep."
Rohit said accommodating both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy together in the playing XI is going to be a big challenge for the Indian team management.
"The biggest challenge for captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir will be how to play both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy together. If you want that combination, you can only do it if you play with two seamers, which is a big challenge.
"But honestly, I would be tempted to play both Varun and Kuldeep because they are wicket-takers and batters struggle to read them. I would surely pick them."
The former India skipper added, "Looking at the conditions in India, like in this New Zealand series, there is a lot of dew. In February and March, dew will be heavy across most parts as winter ends.
"Even in Mumbai, which doesn't get cold, there's still dew. I'd say 90-95 percent of grounds in India have dew. That's the challenge. What do the coach and captain think? Are they comfortable with three spinners? Then they can play spin, but there's no fixed rule. It depends on the team leaders' thinking."
Rohit also urged Kuldeep to stop appealing on every ball and to rely on the wicketkeeper's judgment for reviews.
"My one simple advice to Kuldeep is to just bowl quietly and go back to his mark. You can't appeal on every ball. This is basic. I keep saying it, but it still happens often. Even after telling him many times, he appeals at every chance. You have to use your head. Just because it touches the pad, it doesn't mean it's out every time. This isn't gully cricket.
"I get he is enthusiastic, but think of the team first. Each team only gets two DRS reviews. If I was the keeper, I could see where the ball pitched and if it was hitting, I could tell the bowler.
"But from covers or slip, you don't know the angle. You have to listen to what the keeper and bowler say. That's why when there's a review off Kuldeep's bowling, I don't look at him, I look at the keeper to decide."
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in venues across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
