Goa church flip-flops on Constitution comment
Panaji, June 5: The Goa Church on Tuesday tried to tone down the sharp criticism of the political situation in India in Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao's annual pastoral letter, with a senior official at the Bishop's House insisting that "one or two statements" made by the top church functionary were taken out of context.
Secretary to the Bishop Father Joaquim Loiola Pereira told reporters here that the main theme of the pastoral letter was poverty and that reference to the Constitution being in danger was only a peripheral issue.
Partially distancing Ferrao from the authorship of the letter, Pereira also said that the letter was written over a period of time after seeking inputs from a cross section of the society.
"One thing has to be clarified here that the pastoral letter is signed by the Bishop, but it is not a product of one mind. The writing of the pastoral letter starts about six months before. People from different categories are consulted on what to write. What are the problems that are seen in the Church in Goa. There was a consultation at different levels," Pereira said.
Referring to the mention of the Constitution being in danger in the pastoral letter, Pereira said: "It is not one of the main statements. The pastoral letter is about poverty. That statement (reference to Constitution in danger) has come there as a peripheral statement.
"One or two statements of the Bishop have been taken out and I will say taken out of context and made an issue out of. My thing is this, we do not make any further comments and explanations of the letter," Pereira told reporters here.
The pastoral letter, formally released by Ferrao on Sunday, said that the Indian Constitution was in danger and that a "new trend" of monoculturalism, which demands uniformity in what and how one eats, dresses, lives and even worships, was putting human rights at risk.
"At the time of elections, the candidates confuse the minds of many people by making false promises. And the people, on their part, often sell their precious vote for selfish, petty gains.
"In this context, particularly as the general elections are fast approaching, we must strive to know our Constitution better and work harder to protect it.
"Today, our Constitution is in danger, (it is a) reason why most of the people live in insecurity," Ferrao said in his pastoral letter for 2018-19 which was formally released on Sunday but circulated only on Monday.
The pastoral letter is an annual letter written in June by Archbishops to Church parishes across the state.
Ferrao, as Archbishop of Goa, is the spiritual and religious leader of Catholics in Goa who account for 26 per cent of the state's population of 1.5 million.
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Nayanthara slams Dhanush for sending Rs 10 crore lawsuit over her documentary: All-time low for you
New Delhi, Nov 16: South cinema star Nayanthara on Saturday criticised actor Dhanush, who produced her 2015 Tamil movie "Naanum Rowdy Dhaan", for refusing permission to use footage from the film in her upcoming Netflix documentary.
In a three-page open letter posted on her Instagram page, the "Jawan" actor slammed Dhanush for sending a legal notice demanding Rs 10 crore in damages after the trailer of the documentary, titled "Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale", was released online.
“After two long years of battling it out with you for an NOC (No Objection Certificate) and waiting for your approval for our Netflix documentary release, we finally decided to give up, re-edit, and settle for the current version since you declined to permit the usage of 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan' songs or visual cuts—even the photographs, to say the least—despite multiple requests.
“The songs of 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan' are appreciated to this day because the lyrics came from true emotions. Knowing that there’s no better music we could use in our documentary, your refusal to give us the opportunity to use it, or even just lyrics from the songs, broke my heart,” the letter read.
Released in 2015, "Naanum Rowdy Dhaan" was a romantic comedy written and directed by Nayanthara’s husband, Vignesh Shivan. The actor starred opposite Vijay Sethupathi in the movie, which was produced by Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films.
“The vengeance you have been harbouring against the film, my partner, and me doesn’t just affect us but the people who have contributed their effort and time to this project.
“This Netflix documentary about me, my life, my love, and marriage includes clips of many of my industry well-wishers who have graciously contributed and memories from multiple films, but sadly does not include the most special and important film, 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan',” Nayanthara said.
Dhanush has not yet responded to her letter.
The 39-year-old actor said she was shocked after receiving a legal notice for using a three-second behind-the-scenes clip in the documentary.
“We were startled to read those lines wherein you questioned the usage of some videos (just three seconds) that were shot on our personal devices, and that too BTS visuals that are already very much publicly present on social media, and claimed a sum of Rs 10 crore as damages for the mere three seconds.
“This is an all-time low from you and speaks volumes about your character. I wish you were half the person you portray on stage at audio launches in front of your innocent fans, but clearly, you do not practice what you preach, at least not with me and my partner,” she said.
Nayanthara said she would be giving a “befitting” reply to Dhanush’s notice through lawful means.
“Does a producer become an emperor controlling the lives, freedom, and liberty of all the persons on the set? Any deviation from the emperor’s dictum attracts legal ramifications?
“Your refusal to give an NOC for the use of elements of 'Naanum Rowdy Dhaan' for our Netflix documentary might be justified by you to the courts from a copyright angle, but I wish to remind you that there is a moral side to it, which has to be defended in the court of God,” she added.
Nayanthara noted that the film was released almost 10 years ago but Dhanush continues to act “vile while wearing a mask in front of the world”.
The actor added that she hasn’t forgotten “all the horrible things” Dhanush said about the film, which became one of his biggest hits as a producer.
“The words you said pre-release have already left some unhealable scars on us. I learned through film circles that your ego was supremely hurt after the film became a blockbuster. Your displeasure over its success was perceptible even to the common man through award functions connected with this film (Filmfare 2016),” she said.
“Courtesy and decency mandate large-hearted behaviour in such matters. I believe the people of Tamil Nadu, or anyone with a right conscience, would not appreciate such tyranny, even if it comes from an established personality like you,” she added.
Nayanthara concluded the letter by saying that in a world where it’s easy to look down upon others, “there is also joy in others’ joys, there is happiness in seeing other people’s happiness, and hope that comes from others’ stories”.
“That is the reason behind our Netflix documentary. I suggest you also watch it, and maybe it might change your mind. It is important to #SpreadLove, and I hope and pray that someday you are also fully capable of doing it and not just saying it,” she said.
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