With it being a mouthpiece of India like Hollywood is for the US, the Mumbai film industry not only has to be under the domain of law and order of India but has to shine too. Sadly, the dream world, unfortunately, has more skeletons in its coffers than meets the eye. This incident only makes it the tip of the iceberg. The iceberg has to be explored in its entirety. It needs to be investigated and the facts found. The CBI’s handling of this case will reveal a lot of skeletons in its coffer. It is, in fact, an opportunity for the central government to intervene and the people will be with the government. More reasons for a CBI probe: India under Modi wants to become a global player. For that to come true, slogans are not enough. India has to be able to give something to the world. As a global leader, America's Hollywood has done wonders for the world. In fact, the very world Bollywood traces its roots to Hollywood. Yes, having a long cinema history, India should be giving the world a lot of decent movies. Sadly, it has been happy copying Hollywood movies like its name itself. The prize ceremonies: Yes, Bollywood organizes several prize ceremonies both in India and abroad. Far from being prestigious and the prizes themselves being much sought after, some actors don’t even attend those ceremonies. Prizes seem to be guided by nepotism and by being in certain cartels rather than by talent. Sadly, they have a value of entertainment alone - not admiration. Acting opportunities: Let alone not getting a prize for the hard work done by the actor/worker that simply deflates enthusiasm, even getting a chance to act is a struggle – if one is not in the right camp. Yes, nepotism is present everywhere and Bollywood isn’t any different. Also, although it doesn’t take one far, like anywhere else yes casting couch does occur and sex does talk when money or talent isn’t quite there. But in Bollywood, bullying seems to go on openly, especially against a competitor – who is seen as a threat to the hegemony. Film releases: A hit film not only needs a good film but also several cinema halls for its release. When most of the halls are only available for the selected few, who always tend to produce add related the first-day collection hits, it becomes a tragedy for the others – as they lose money. Not surprisingly talent dies down. Harassment: With the Bollywood world divided into insiders and outsiders, the insiders make sure that there is no threat to their earnings and prestige from the outsiders. Besides, almost like a bully they also make sure that outsiders obey them and as if they were Dhimmis remain in their place. Apart from the occult threat from the underworld, overt insinuations during private conversations or public festivals are common. The investment: Like any other industry, the Mumbai film industry needs financiers, and like anywhere else tax evasion is a known problem in this city too. Of course, legit financing is good but Bollywood is known for its underground connections and funding. Funding, however, isn’t innocent for it drags command and control with it. While control goes to the makers of the films, the command goes to the agenda that it wants to be propagated. Once that is understood the bullying and threatening episodes that happen in the dream city in a rather regular fashion (which incidentally now offers more smiles than tears) can be seen as a natural consequence. All these need a deeper investigation. With the Mumbai police wetting their pants if forced to do so, it becomes imperative that it is done by the center. Also, the agenda-driven propaganda part of the underground may not be good for the people and the government of India. Since this involves the whole of India, the central agency cannot drag its feet. Having said all that one can easily question, even if the CBI investigates they might just come up with a few culprits. They may be put in jail. This may satisfy his fans. But, how on earth will an investigation lead to investigating Bollywood and how on earth will it be useful for India? Will it investigate Bollywood? The strange thing about this saga is that almost like a great Bollywood movie, it has not only the cacophony that is airing a lot more than that single death, it has the deafening silence coming out from the Bollywood stalwarts - which is screaming a lot more. When the cacophony and the silence are added together as 2+2 or simply as dots this death seems to be the result not of any individual hostility. It rather seems to be the result of an idea, a phenomenon, an agenda. It almost reminds one of the communist revolutionary going on a killing spree for the sake of an idea of the fatherland. This case seems to have many octopuses like tentacles reaching far and wide. An impartial investigation by the CBI will not only lead the investigator to the immediate cause of this death but to the tentacles that are involved in the sad incident. If it is an honest investigation, one tentacle will lead to another tentacle and so on. Even if there are a lot of skeletons in the coffers of Bollywood, these tentacles will lead to them. Not knowing much about the circulating cash, India did do a demonetization of its currency. Now, following it, India knows better where the hard cash is circulating. Similarly, the central government, which is aiming for a global stage, has no idea about what goes on in its cinema Industry in terms of both cash and crime. In there, there is not only a duty but an opportunity for the center to butt in. Even if, it isn’t able to go deep on the underground part, it can deal with the overt part and bring about the circulation of taxed cash and legal equality in the functioning of the Indian cinema. While censoring films isn’t enough, even that does not reach the grossly unregulated and disturbing Net series. Apart from finances Bollywood needs good actors too. In fact, it needs more to prosper. If equal opportunity is brought into the Indian cinema, brilliant yet outside artists and the rest can have an opportunity to bring about a big change in Indian cinema. Imagine that concerning the population that it has. In doing so the Indian government will not only have an accurate idea of the finances involved, it will have the opportunity to correct the present problems. Thus, it will enhance healthy competition in the Indian cinema sector. And when the fair competition comes in, India might be able to produce brilliant actors locally and prize-winning cinemas internationally. This will not only help the ‘Make in India’ concept it will push India’s dignity globally. This may not be good to the bad guys, as they say in film circles; it will be good for the good guys. --------------------

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