Banning 'Bombayi' : nationalism, communalism and gender

Abstract

Is the protest against Maniratnam's new film, on the ground that it offends Muslim sentiments, simply an expression of 'fundamentalism' of Muslim patriarchal attitudes? Could it not bet that the liberal analysis and solution ('hatred' and 'love') are unacceptable as inaccurate, simplistic and patronising to those who comprise the overwhelming majority among the victims of communal violence?