By Surendra Bhatia
It is tempting to believe that singer Mika must have done something right for him to have rubbed the wrong way almost everyone – major sections of Indian and Pakistani population, and most of those in power in the two countries! So, who really is left? Mika himself, of course.
Actually, what Mika did should not be frowned upon. He performed at the wedding of the daughter of General Pervez Musharraf’s cousin in Pakistan on August 8. He was, reportedly, paid a handsome sum of $1,50,000 and was provided first class air tickets to fly into Pakistan and fly out. So, for a couple of days’ work, including travel time, Mika was getting around Rs. 1 crore. Why would he not accept it? He’s got his own stomach and a few more to think of… frankly, it would be churlish to chide him for taking up the offer.
But, some silly-hearted folk in India and Pakistan think otherwise. Reportedly, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees castigated him as anti-national and called upon industry folk to boycott him. Why? Shouldn’t the Association be happy that Mika managed to pull out $1,50,000 from cash-strapped Pakistan, further weakening its economy? And what did he have to do for that? Just perform at a wedding for one evening. In fact, Mika should be encouraged to sing at a wedding a day in Pakistan for that kind of money for the next six months; the money Mika pulls out of Pakistan, it should be understood, is money that won’t end up in hands of jihadis. So, Indians should be a bit insightful and realise that Mika has actually served India’s interests. Pakistanis are, very justifiably, offended at Mika performing in their country while India and Pakistan seem so close to war. The authorities there have banned trade with India, because of which the price of tomatoes in Pakistan has shot up to Rs. 300 per kg. The Pakistanis would rather that tomatoes were brought in from India, which would slash the price by half, than Mika. And who can blame them for it? Because however fabulously Mika may be at singing, he is of little use in the making of mutton kurma at Eid.Â
