ON THE `BEEP’ SONG............
By T Kannamala
Author : News Chase : Thrills, frills & perils of News Reporting
<http://www.amazon.com/dp/19
Book Review :
An agitated house wife had petitioned the local police that a man had been taking bath, full naked, in her neighborhood. This caused her great distress, and mental agony. She wanted the police to arrest and prosecute him under the Obscenity Act.
A cop called on her and asked: `where does this man take bath?’
The woman pointed to the bathroom of a house about 100 metres away.
`But I am unable to see anything inside from here’, the cop said.
The woman angrily shouted. `You go to our terrace, climb on the water tank, and look through my binocular. You will see!’.
I was reminded of this joke while reading about the angry protests by women activists, and media outbursts over `the Beep Song.’ Tamil Actor Simbu wrote the song, and `Kolavery song’ fame director Anirud tuned it.
I was curious to know how the `womanhood was insulted’ with this song, and played it on the youth tube twice. Thanks to the poor audio quality, I could understand very little. .But let us assume for a moment that it is crass stuff. Let us also remember that Internet is a noman’s land where good, bad, and ugly co-exist, and visitors are free to visit the contents of their choice. `Beep song’ is just an insignificant small fly when compared to the vultures and whales roaming the net world. Why should someone, like the woman in the joke, hunt for something forbidden, and then lose their sleep over it?
Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code defines obscene acts or words in public. The other sections of Indian Penal code which deal with obscenity are 292 and 293. The law does not clearly define what would constitute an obscene act. It would enter the domain of the state only when it takes place in a public place to the annoyance of others. Temple art or nakedness of sadhus are outside the purview of this section. Being an artiste, probably Simbu too can invoke any such exemptions in the Act, and get out of the mess.
By T.Kannamala (Southern Features)
Jan.07,201
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