When Chief of Army Staff V K Singh met film personalities on Wednesday evening to talk about their role in redesigning India, the discussion apparently diverted to a debate on corruption and how to fight it. "We ended up discussing Anna Hazare and corruption that are the current hot topics of the nation," film distributor Shyam Shroff said. Even the music launch of Mumbai Chi Porgi Mona on Tuesday looked like an Anna show. Film writer Dilip Thakur said, "I have never seen a film event where the national anthem was sung. Jagjit Singh, who was the chief guest at the event, walked in wearing a 'Mee Anna Hazare' cap."
Bollywood veterans claim that the formation of the Janata Party and V P Singh quitting the Congress were the two other political events that overshadowed the tinsel town world.
Thakur added, "Bollywood is often blamed for shirking social responsibility but Anna Hazare's fight against corruption has brought everyone together and express his views on it."
There have been events where actors Dev Anand and Naseeruddin Shah declined to comment on Anna. A source said, "They didn't want their show to turn into an Anna Hazare event and so, they avoided making any statement. But in every production office and film set, all that people can talk about is when would Anna break his fast.''
Although cinema halls are showing low occupancy and it is not related to Anna Hazare Vishal Anand, head of operations of Fun Cinemas said, the mood for entertainment is definitely not buoyant right now. The movies at the box office is not going to strong because of lack of strong content and secondly the mind space of people is being occupied with what is happening around them and with Anna Hazare's fast. People in some way or the other have connected with the movement .''
Movies will get a strong starting with Eid and release of Bodyguard and hopefully there will be a headway in talks to make it a double celebration for all of us.''
