Anglo-Indians up in arms against Cotton Mary

But other members, while agreeing that the film portrayed the community inbad light, are apprehensive of whether a legal battle will catapult the filminto the limelight. 8220;Many scenes in the movie are highly defamatory,8221; says Kevin Rozario, adding, 8220;It shows Anglo-Indian men as drunkards and women as easily available. Merchant is trying to sell the community.8221;

Citing the I8217;m-British-only dialogue by Cotton Mary before she worms her way into Lily8217;s heart, Rozario says, 8220;that itself questions our identity.8221;

Andrew Luiz, treasurer of the Union of Anglo-Indian Association says, 8220;Cotton Mary ridicules the community. It depicts us as a pro-English community which goes ga-ga over English soap, English soup and English clothes. And as a set of people who would even steal English products to show off.8221;

He adds, 8220;Anglo-Indians here are descendants of the Portuguese. The movie shows us as English descendants. 8220;Merchant has not gone into basic details.8221;

But Rozario says the question was not only about lineage. 8220;The issue is the bitterness that the movie has left. One character, for instance, says that Anglo-Indians inherited the worst of the Indians and the worst of theBritish. But we have the best of both the countries.8221;

8220;After seeing the movie, only one question remains. What8217;s the realintention of the film maker,8221; asks Charles Dias, association president. 8220;Merchant, perhaps, is not aware that Anglo-Indian nurses laid the foundation of nursing in India8230; The community has done a lot of good. But not even one positive aspect is mentioned.8221;

However, Dias is against initiating legal action to stop the film8217;s screening. 8220;Two days into the release, the movie has been confined to the noon-show slot. Soon it8217;ll die a natural death. So why give it unwanted publicity through a court case?8221;

Another member suggests the association should approach the authorities seeking a ban on screening, to prevent it from being shown in other cities.

The office-bearers will soon meet to discuss the issue.