Jamaat-e-Islami Hind to produce films and TV serials

The Kerala unit of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is getting into production of commercial films and serials, which will be telecast on its new venture, Mediaone TV. The Malayalam-language news and entertainment satellite channel is to go on air next month.

This is the first time a state unit of the Jamaat-e-Islami is venturing into visual media. Incidentally, Jamaat mouthpiece Madhayamam itself does not publish film advertisements, a policy it has followed since its launch 25 years ago.

The channel would be floated by the Kozhikode-based Madhyamam Broadcasting Corporation. A tie-up has already been worked out with Al Jazeera.

Jamaat’s ‘assistant amir (Kerala)’ Sheikh Mohammed Karakunnu, an Islamic scholar, said Mediaone would follow the same principles practised by Madhyamam. “Like the daily, the TV channel will give due space to issues of minorities, Dalits and the marginalised. The TV channel will also have regulations on accepting advertisements, (and on) content of the programmes,” he said.

Karakunnu confirmed that Mediaone would also produce its own films apart from sourcing films from outside. “Work on a film has begun,” he said.

Mediaone group editor O Abdurahiman said their aim was to give voice to the voiceless. “We want to develop an alternative media culture as our daily has done. Mediaone TV has entered into a tie-up with Arab broadcaster Al Jazeera, mainly for sharing content on world affairs. The channel would be hived into news and entertainment after six months.”

Noting that the bar on film advertisement in Madhyamam had no link with Mediaone airing films, Abdurahiman pointed out that the Jamaat mouthpiece didn’t skirt film news either. “Our daily gives film reviews and covers film festivals exhaustively,” he said.

Among the film proposals the channel is considering, Abdurahiman said, was one based on the life of Kunhali Marakkar, a local king’s naval chief who had fought against Portuguese invaders after Vasco da Gama’s arrival on the Malabar Coast in the 15th century. The story falls neatly in line with Jamaat’s pet campaign: anti-imperialism.

Writer and social critic Prof N M Karassery said that as it strives for more space in the mainstream, it was but natural for the Jamaat-e-Islami to turn to new media. Films, which could be used for ideological campaigning, were an obvious choice. “The Jamaat is not a mere religious outfit, but a political one in disguise,” he noted.

Karassery, however, added that the move could also backfire on the Jamaat. “I do not think that the channel would make that organisation more liberal, but may expose their anti-women approach and their capitalistic intentions,’’ he said.

Prof Hameed Chendamangaloor, who studies Muslim organisations, too isn’t surprised by the Jamaat’s foray into TV media as it wants to wield more political clout and foster Islamic politics. “No Muslim organisation can stick on to the days when watching TV or enjoying music was taboo. Even if the ideology is for conservatism, political motives would spur the Jamaat and other organisations to embrace changes, he said.

A report by Shaju Philip in Indian Express Here.

CPI (M) workers attack Jamaat-e-Islami Hind activists

The election meeting of the Janakeeya Vikasana Munnani (popular development front) led by the Jamat e Islami was attacked by a group of people, reportedly of the CPI (M), at Kakkodi in Kozhikode yesterday. Jamat political secretary Hameed Vanimel and several others including policemen were injured in the attack on the meeting held in the Panchayat Community Hall. About 50 persons attacked the meeting in which hundreds of people including women and children were participating. The attackers destroyed several vehicles parked at the place. Those injured have been admitted to the Medical College Hospital in Calicut and a private hospital.

The meeting of the newly-formed alliance of the Janakeeya Vikasana Munnani led by the Jamat e Islami prior to the up-coming three tier panchayat elections began at around 3.30 pm. Hameed Vanimel inaugurated the meeting and V Salih presented the document on the proposed development plan for the Panchayat. A group of people in the hall got up when Pramod Shameer was speaking at around 5 pm. When the president of the meeting said that there was no question-answer session in the agenda of the programme, those who got up reportedly began to attack. More people came in from outside and broke chairs and mikes. A group also destroyed the vehicles parked outside the building.

A small group of police were in the place when the meeting began. More policemen came after the group left the place attacking for about 15 minutes. The organizers of the meeting have filed a complaint with the police. The police have reportedly registered case against nearly 50 persons, reportedly members of the CPI (M). The leaders including Jamat e Islami political secretary Hameed Vanimel and Solidarity district president Razaq Paleri as well as the women in the hall were brought outside with police aid by 6 pm. Ten persons are admitted in hospitals and seven vehicles were destroyed by the attackers.

Jamat e Islami and the Janakeeya Vikasana Munnani have blamed the CPI (M) for the attack. A bus of policemen had reportedly reached the place before the meeting began and it is said that the police had prior information of the attack but did not inform the organizers of the meeting.

From a report in Two circles and in Coastal Digest. More Here and Here

How it all began.... 

The meeting of the newly-formed alliance of the Janakeeya Vikasana Munnani led by the Jamaat e Islami prior to the up-coming three tier panchayat elections began at around 3.30 pm. A group of people in the hall got up reportedly began to attack JIH workers. More people came in from outside and broke chairs and mikes.
The organizers of the meeting have filed a complaint with the police. The police have reportedly registered a case against nearly 50 persons, reportedly members of the CPI (M).
Ten people have been admitted in hospitals and seven vehicles were destroyed by the attackers.
From a report in Jamaat's website. More Here