Published: Thursday Mar 08, 2012
By: Administrator

Tricolour on boots? Wearing patriotism on boots in fact puts one into trouble, even if he is a common man or a superstar. But spokesman of NTR has to say something about it. Before that lets know what is the punishment for degrading the National Flag of the Country.

Hoisting and using (including misuse and insult) of the national flag is regulated by the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and the Flag Code of India, 2002.The use of the national flag even in costumes by Indian designers generated controversy in the past but now a popular film actor wearing shoes with the tricolours for his movie promotion has attracted attention. According to the provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2003, 'whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, disfigures, tramples upon or otherwise shows disrespect to or bringing into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend up to three years or with fine or both. The Act explains that disrespect to the Indian National Flag will include using the flag as a portion of a costume or unifrom or any description or embroidering or printing it on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins or any dress material.

Oh God! So much of Trouble. NTR should have gone for a rethought about it then right? In the publicity material for the film ‘Shakti', Jr NTR's pictures have appeared with him wearing shoes with the tricolor on them. The photograph was published on the cover of a Telugu film magazine in its latest issue. 'Shakti', to be released on Friday, is said to have been made with a budget of Rs 40 crore by producer C Aswani Dutt.


But then why should NTR go for a rethinking when his spokesman says he hasn’t gone for a deed like that. Yes, with Jr NTR's shoes with the tricolor is generating a controversy, Suresh Kodeti who brings out the magazine on which the photograph was printed said the magazine had only used a still that was printed as an advertisement for the film. "It was an exclusive publicity still that was handed over to the magazine by the film production house. It should be observed that there is red colour and not orange in what is supposedly the tricolour. There is no Ashoka Chakra also in it," Suresh Kodeti said when contacted. It may be mentioned here that actors sometimes do a separate photo shoot for publicity stills and the particular gear may or may not be there in the movie. Whatever that may be, If its red its justified, but even if it’s a special or separate photoshoot for the promotion, an actor like NTR shouldn’t wear tricolor on boots, an actor who is looked upon by millions.