Please bring efficiency: Javed Akhtar

Bollywood has raised its voice against the terror attacks in unison. The most eloquent of it has spoken and raised some very dark questions. Javed Akhtar talks about those horrifying fifty-nine hours in an exclusive interview with Spicezee.com.

Bollywood has raised its voice against the terror attacks in unison. The most eloquent of it has spoken and raised some very dark questions about the security concerns of the nation. Javed Akhtar talks about those horrifying fifty-nine hours that shook the nation in an exclusive interview with Spicezee.com.

Spicezee: What were your reactions at that moment of speechlessness?Javed: Those were the places we tread everyday, we frequented all our lives. It was hard to believe that these shooting and bombing was happening at the places we have frequented only some time back. My reaction was of disbelief – I could not take in what I saw on TV. Spicezee: How did you and your family feel in those 59 hours of terror? Javed: Like any other Mumbaikar. Unfortunately we Mumbaikars and Indians are used to these kinds of news of blast of shootings, but this time it was completely different. At such a large scale, such bold moves of carrying RDX, grenades, guns into the hotel is unthinkable. We were gripped more by anger than terror. Spicezee: What do you perceive in the present Indian society? Javed: I have never seen such anger in the Indians all my life. But these politicians do still not understand the gravity of the situation. Even now they can’t grasp the anger that is building up in the common man. The citizen are so angry at the political system, it is not any particular party that is targettd. We have seen all, heard the speeches, but nothing seems to be happening. We are not angry with the whole political system. Spicezee: Were you scared? Javed: What was surprising if I was scared? But anger was the more dominant emotion, to be let down by our own system. The strike required great planning that must have been months long. Why didn’t the intelligence agencies know of it? They said thsat we had warned of the attack, but the truth is that they have by now warned of all the possible targets of attacks, and everyday they come up with one warning or another and get it printed on all the leading papers. They don’t leave any loophole for themselves to be blamed. You are intelligence bureau, not information bureau! Why can’t you find a solution? Spicezee: Would you say that Mumbai’s spirit has not succumbed, it will bounce back? Javed: Mumbai will go on with it’s daily life, that will not stop, obviously. The common man keeps doing his work, but if those responsible for his safety should also do their work, then that would be better Spicezee: What would you say as a responsible part of Bollywood? Javed: The film industry should stand up to give hope to the people. People listen to stars, the youth watch the Bollywood celebrities and take an interest, then we should say to them that we should be united. We should create a consciousness in them that if you are angered by this terror attack, don’t let this anger calm down, keep it boiling, keep up the pressure on the system, only them will we get results and safety. Otherwise we know of the irresponsibility of our politicians – when the first meeting was called after the attack to reach a consensus, LK Advani and Rajnath Singh were not even present in the meeting, they were busy planning their political moves. Spicezee: How do you suggest we can face the terrorism? Javed: We cannot face it this way! For God sake we cannot be holding guns and guarding our doorsteps for our safety. It is the job of those responsible for our security. Why are they not able to do their jobs? Give them equipment, staff, facilities, budget, but please bring efficiency! Adaptation: Nabila Habib