“People hasten to judge in order not to be judged themselves” — Albert Camus (The Fall).
Doctor (PhD) Gregg Henriques, a professor of psychology at James Madison University, USA, writes: “Someone is being judgmental when their judgements are power-driven, unempathetic, based on their own idiosyncratic values or tastes, overly based on other people’s character, and are closed, shallow, and pessimistic, and ultimately have the consequence of making the other person feel problematically diminished.”
According to an artificial intelligence platform, the word entertainment is derived from the Old French word entretenir, which means “to hold together” or “to maintain”, and is originally related to hospitality and keeping guests happy.
Entertainment is vital for living beings, especially humans. Just as a good massage relieves the body of aches and tight muscles, the stresses and tensions that we go through in our daily lives can be reduced through the therapy of entertainment. Not only does it relax an otherwise pressured brain, it improves our emotional well-being and, at times, brings together our loved ones, thus strengthening our familial bonds via get-togethers, parties, dinners, etc. Everyone has suffered some form of grief, and this portal helps to alleviate sorrow, bringing new freshness to monotonous lives. Through this medium, gaiety as well as new perspectives are born for those who have little or no time to pursue knowledge or stay updated with current affairs.
When good stories are narrated in a variety of ways, they invoke empathy, pride, and reinforce connections with other human beings. Besides, sound physical and mental health require constant nurturing, and different types of positive activities enable people to maintain their bodies; therefore, sports and mind games are also essential means of amusement. Drama, performing arts, festivals, games, and other public events hold the audience’s attention, keeping them engaged and providing them opportunities to enjoy the pleasures of living, to emphasise the fact that life is not all about gloom and doom.
With so much in favour of entertainment, the significance of entertainers cannot be ignored. They are individuals who amuse and delight people with their different talents. They could be actors, singers, dancers, comedians, magicians, or even ordinary street performers. When performing before a live audience, their skill sets have to be of an exceptional level to enrapture the audience in the true sense of the word. They can also be influential in propagating certain narratives where traditional forms may fail. So, compared to a teacher’s lesson, perhaps an actor’s style may leave a long-lasting impression on a student’s mind.
Now that she is aged and has lost her charm, has her status changed from a heartthrob to a despicable person?
The recordings show we experience and eagerly look forward to watching or listening to carry many hours of hard work, rehearsals, and meticulous planning. The performers have to undergo immense trials before they are ready to hit the stage. They have to pay attention to their physical appearance, costumes, and, of course, whatever they are required to do. For some, show business may be just a pastime, but for many, this is bread and butter for their families. Their very existence and source of income pivot around it. As receivers of their multidimensional talents, we are obliged to respect them, and if that is not possible, at least refrain from slurring their image.
These days, a video is circulating in the media regarding the pathetic disposition of Sabira Sultana, a popular Pakistani film star of the 1950s–1960s. Due to her old age, diseases, and poor financial condition, she is now dependent upon a very few human caretakers. In this interview, while she laments her destitution, she also mentions that if she were given a new life, she would choose to be a religious scholar, as show business has given her nothing. Her opinion is appreciable, considering her current state of affairs. However, her counterparts in India, like Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Vijayanthimala, etc., seem quite content with their lives despite being older than perhaps this lady.
Anyways, this is a serious problem in our country, where our entertainers mostly have a bleak future, and many have been known to have passed away under miserable circumstances. This is a totally different topic. The problem here is some of the comments that follow this video. They are not only apathetic in nature but are also insulting to the work of a star who worked dutifully in her profession to bring some bliss into the mundane lives of her countrymen.
Now that she is aged and has lost her charm, has her status changed from a heartthrob to a despicable person? So now we can comfortably pass judgments, declaring her income as an actor haram (sinful) and her life immoral. This attitude of disrespect and taking high moral ground does not befit a nation that is knee-deep in the filth of corruption, violation of the rule of law, and a pretentious character of adorning the attire of religion.
Rather than extending a helping hand to this poor lady in mitigating her suffering, we conveniently take the opportunity to vent against those who go out of their way to bring a smile to our faces or make us laugh away our grief or provide us with a glimpse into that fairytale world that we unconsciously desire for ourselves. How easy it is to pass verdicts of virtue and vice, but when placed in excruciating situations, the self-acclaimed moralists revert to the most devious means to serve their interests.
“It is not for me to judge another man's life. I must judge, I must choose, I must spurn, purely for myself. For myself, alone.” — Hermann Hesse
Where there is demand, there will be supply. If people abstain from being entertained, performers would adopt a different profession. Those who find their work deplorable can turn their faces away and spend their lives as religious recluses, but they have no right to condemn them when a large segment of the population glorifies their existence.