Art and culture are for everyone, no matter where they come from. Thats why Bombay High Court refused to ban Pakistani artists from working in India. They mentioned that being a true patriot doesn’t mean disliking foreigners. They also said that promoting peace and cultural harmony is more important than being unfriendly to other countries.
The petition asked for a ban on Indian individuals and companies hiring or working with Pakistani cinema professionals, musicians, singers, lyricists, and technicians. Judges named Sunil Shukre and Firdosh Pooniwalla said no to the request. They said stopping Pakistani artists from working in India wouldn’t help bring people together through culture and peace. They also mentioned that being a patriot doesn’t mean not liking foreigners, especially those from nearby countries.
After the Uri attack in 2016, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) decided not to collaborate with Pakistani artists.
“A true patriot is a person who is selfless, who is devoted to the cause of his country, which he cannot be unless he is a person who is good at heart. A person who is good at heart would welcome in his country any activity which promotes peace, harmony, and tranquillity within the country and across the border,” as quoted by PTI.
”One must understand that in order to be a patriot, one need not be inimical to those from abroad especially, from the neighbouring country,” the court highlighted.