JNU violence: Bevy of Bollywood stars joins stir, sings 'Hum Dekhenge'

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: As protests against the violence at JNU spread gathered momentum, several film personalities joined in on Monday to show solidarity with the students.
The two-hour sit-in from 8pm to 10pm saw actors and directors, including Anurag Kashyap, Anubhav Sinha, Sudhir Mishra, Vishal Bharadwaj, Dia Mirza, Zoya Akhtar, Taapsee Pannu, Richa Chadha, Rahul Bose, Saurabh Shukla, Ali Fazal and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub as well as stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra raise their voice against Sunday's violence.The group sang the famous poem 'Hum Dekhenge' by Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Participants held posters and placards that read: "Modiji, Ilaaka yeh sabka, go back to your gully" and a pun on the word "religion" that read, "Our country is all about 'ja'n (where the word "religion" was broken into two and "reli" crossed out)."
Earlier, Taapsee Pannu had tweeted: "Coz with great power comes greater responsibility and I don't want to shy away from it. JNU, you have our love and support."

Many in the film industry, which had come under fire for not taking a stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act, called Sunday's violence at JNU "horrifying" and "barbaric".
Anil Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Rajkummar Rao, Twinkle Khanna and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice. Others, including Deepika Padukone, Pooja Bhatt, Swara Bhasker, Vishal Dadlani, Meghna Gulzar and Aanand Rai, also expressed concern. Anil Kapoor said he was shocked and couldn't sleep after watching the disturbing visuals of the attack. "It has to be condemned. Nothing will come out of violence. Whoever did this, they should be published absolutely," he told mediapersons.
Actor Aditya Roy Kapur said, "There's no place for that kind of violence in our country, the perpetrators have to be brought to task, definitely." Alia Bhatt said that it is time to "strongly oppose any ideology that seeks to divide, oppress and promote violence".
Sonam K Ahuja tweeted: "Shocking, disgusting and cowardly. Have the balls to at least show your face when you want to attack innocents." Kashyap, who has been posting videos of what went inside the JNU campus, wrote, "Hindutva terrorism is now totally out there. #JNUSU."
Kriti Sanon said violence was never the solution and what happened in varsity was inhuman. "It breaks my heart to see what happened at JNU! What's going on in India is horrifying!! Students & teachers being beaten up & terrorized by masked cowards!!" she said.
Director-writer Reema Kagti tweeted, "I stand with the students and people of India. Shame on the government of India for their brutality and barbarism. #JNU #AMU #Jamiya #NoToNRC #NoToCAA."
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta urged celebrities to speak up. "Dear celebrities. It is understandable that opening your heart out and being vocal on a public platform entails a great risk for you and your career. But remember the millennials who form your major audience are speaking up vociferously. Your voice matters to them," he tweeted.
Actor Richa Chadha said: "Name and shame them. If the cops don't act, if the authorities vie to make them ministers, it is we must act. Name and shame these aggressors and goons. They shouldn't be getting jobs or degrees."