Even as Mulk faces the wrath of polarised political wings in India, director Anubhav Sinha has moved on to his next political drama. “My next entitled Abhi Toh Party Shuroo Hui Hai is even more hard-hitting than Mulk. I can see many more toes getting crushed, and trolls getting aggressive over this one. While Mulk was confined to the politics of isolation and persecution, Abhi Toh Party Shuroo Hui Hai takes pot-shots at every political ideology that has brought our country to a state of anarchy,” says Anubhav who is being viciously trolled by right-wingers for making a film that is allegedly pro-Muslim.
“I am paying the price for telling the truth. Nowhere has Mulk taken sides. We are openly critical of the Muslim community where we needed to be. There is a direct mention of the loudspeakers blaring the azaan five times a day, of the need for vulnerable Muslim families to take better care of their children who are prone to stray into militancy. I haven’t taken sides in Mulk. Yet my film is being attacked on IMDB,” says the director.
There are reviews and counter-reviews to Mulk, and Anubhav Sinha is clearly in a celebratory mood. “We had a get-together on Friday for the Mulk crew and our friends. I called it a happiness get together. I invited (director) Vijay Krishna Acharya’s wife. But even her husband came along because he loved the film. Sudhir Mishra who is like my guru has been a great support.”
The director also says he has never read such in-depth reviews of any of his films. “There are writers who have never reviewed Hindi films, analyzing Mulk. Somewhere it has hit a chord in the heart of Hindustan. I think I’ve succeeded in doing what I set out to do. Start a debate on subject that we’ve so far swept under the carpet.” he signs off.
