The most towering figure of Indian cinema invoked an iconic Satyajit Ray film Ganashatru to talk about the perils of shrinking civil liberties and freedom of expression at the inauguration of the Kolkata International Film Festival on Thursday.

Amitabh Bachchan said, “One of his later films, Ganashatru, can be taken as an indication of how Ray may have reacted to current times. In this chamber drama, about a jaundice epidemic caused by water contamination that is suppressed by both the state and the local temple, Dr Asok Gupta (the protagonist) becomes the enemy of the people, fighting for justice.”

Political barbs have been flying thick and fast since Bachchan’s explosive words in Kolkata, but it was clear from the tone and tenor of his speech that the 80-year-old had come with a clear mind on the points he had to make.

The jury is still out on what the trigger for this speech was, more so because it comes from a man who has steered clear of political matters ever since his election as the Allahabad MP back in 1984. Bachchan re signed from the seat in 1987.

While Amitabh Bachchan spoke about the film fraternity needing to take inspiration from Indian cinematic maestros and their politically and socially conscious films, Shah Rukh Khan’s speech at Kolkata International Film Festival on Thursday was about the negative effects of social media and how cinema has a constructive role to play in countering it.

“Cinema and social media platforms have become a source of creative expression of human emotion. Contrary to the belief that social media will affect our cinema negatively, I believe cinema has a more important role to play now…Social media is often driven by a certain narrowness of view that limits human nature to its baser self...I read somewhere-negativity increases social media consumption,” he said even as he is being viciously targeted by trolls.

Shah Rukh Khan also chose to focus on the beauty and power of cinema to foster inclusivity and compassion instead. “Cinema is best placed to be the counter narrative that speaks to the larger human nature. A narrative that brings to the fore humanity’s immense capacity for compassion, unity and brotherhood. Meeting the world at the world of cinema is the call of the day. Not just meeting, but also using the power of cinema as a vehicle for people of different cultures, colours, caste and religion to better understand each other. The endeavour is to build a new platform of understanding and break existing prejudices. So let’s come together and build a better world for all our future generations,” he added.

Ending his speech on a light note, he said, “Duniya kuch bhi kar le – main, aur aap log aur jitne bhi positive log hai, sab ke sab zinda hai.”