From censorship to arrests, when culture, artists came in crosshairs

State-owned television broadcaster Doordarshan started airing a show called Geeton Bhari Shaam.

- Dhamini Ratnam

MUMBAI: In January 1976, state-owned television broadcaster Doordarshan started airing a show called Geeton Bhari Shaam. A brainchild of Sanjay Gandhi, the son of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, it brought together some of the most popular singers and actors of the time to extol the 20-point programme, a set of socio-economic development initiatives initiated by the government. Actor Dilip Kumar delivered a four-minute speech on the importance of population control. Singer Asha Bhonsle and music composer R D Burman sang the popular number, Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, from the 1975 film, Khel Khel Mein, with a full-instrument orchestra that included Rishi Kapoor on the tambourine. Another popular singing duo, Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh, performed a song from the hit film, Kabhie Kabhie, as Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor and Rakhi (the cast of the film) stood beside them. But what Doordarshan didn't show was the sordid truth about why the most popular singer of the time was missing.

On June 25, 1975, President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed signed the Emergency proclamation on account of "internal disturbances" that "threatened the security". Indira Gandhi's government censored the press, jailed opposition leaders, and sterilised thousands of people. Cinema, the stage and the canvas bore the brunt, too. Outspoken playwrights and actors were vindictively crushed or harassed. Films like Kissa Kursi Ka and Aandhi were banned, and artists were made examples of.

Kishore Kumar was one of them.

Suppression by govt