Bollywood and smoking

India makes the record last year on World No-tobacco Day by becoming the first country to ban all Smoking scenes in Films and TV. But since its announcement, the unfolding drama surrounding this new law is something like watching a movie itself.

Bollywood, the most prolific Film producer in the world, has a long history of portraying heroes and villains with cigarettes or hand-rolled bidis dangling from their lips. There is no denying the fact that on-screen Smoking has a significant impact on Indian youth and that a ban would protect the lives of millions of children who could be addicted to Smoking under the influence of movies. A 2003 W orld Health Organization report estimated that India is home to approximately 250 million tobacco users and that more than 800,000 Indians die each year from Smoking-related illnesses.

The disagreements between the Health Ministry (which issued the ban) and Information & Broadcasting Ministry (which is entrusted to implement the ban) can beat Saas-Bahu dramas. In addition, there is extra spice in the form of the strong condemnation and anger from the Film industry with a good measure of statements from many concerned, and court scenes, with Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt filing a PIL. Finally now, the issue rests with the PMO to find a suitable conc lusion.

Bollywood have strongly protested the Centres decision to ban Smoking scenes in movies and on television. According to some of the producers, this is the Film line, an entertainment business and they are not doing anything purposely. We are just playing a character, painting a character. Suppose tomorrow, I want to again make the movie Devdas, he has to have the drinks. Tomorrow the minister will say you dont show him drinking; then how is it possible? At least, they should have a talk with the Film industry, said one producer.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt filed a PIL in court seeking to quash the notification terming it as violation of the right to freedom of speech and expression. Director Shyam Benegal said the move would interfere with artistic expression. He feels the ban does not make sense and this act is handy to develop a character.

On the other hand, some relate Smoking ban with censorship. Actor director Amol Palekar feels that the recent government ban on Smoking on screen amounts to censorship. There are adequate regulations which govern advertising of cigarette and other tobacco products. But putting a total ban on showing Smoking on the screen amounts to censorship, he said in an exclusive interview to The Day After. I have always been opposed to censorship of any kind in Film, theatre or any other form of art. Censorship is not fair for art itself. It blocks free expression, which is vital for art.

Stating that the ground on which the ban has been imposed is justified, Palekar says, however, that a total ban is not the solution or way to curb Smoking. The health concerns may be genuine. But if that is the case, there are many things, which we need to observe minutely. Going by the same standards, we will have to ban showing drinking as well. Because, drinking is more injurious to health and it is a social evil, he says.

The other area of concern is the huge archive of old Films and television programmes in all regional languages in which anti-Smoking warnings will have to be inserted. The industry feels that clearing such a huge backlog is nearly i mpossible.

But the larger sentiment is that the ban goes against creative license, especially given that Smoking scenes on Indian screen have drastically reduced in the current politically correct age.

The Indian Film industry is said to be the largest in the world and produces over 900 Films a year. These Films touch the lives of over 250 million people in India and create demi-gods out of stars.

In trying to be more like these stars, they copy the style of the ons creen characters and that often includes drinking and Smoking to portray a cool image. The most popular screen moment of Rajnikanth flipping his cigarette and tossing it into his mouth has been copied by many a teen.

Meanwhile, the deadline of implementation of the ban was extended twice. Both the ministries have so far failed to reach the consensus, and the PIL is still there in the court. The Health Ministry has approached the Prime Ministers office to intervene and resolve the matter.

According to sources, this issue has become very sensitive, as the Health Ministry has taken it up as a prestige issue. On the other hand, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry - despite finding it difficult to implement the ban - cannot strike it down completely.

While the Health Ministry has been backing a complete ban on Smoking in Films and television, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been looking for ways to implement the ban in a milder form with various exemptions.

A little bit of helping hand from government was needed to resolve the issue. They should have done something concrete by reaching a consensus between all the departments and Film industry, and analyzing the feasibility of its implementation, before prematurely issuing directives on the same.

The fact remains that manufacturing or selling of tobacco products is not banned, and these are openly available at any nook and corner of the country. It, therefore, nullifies the argument that Smoking ban on Films and TV can reduce Smoking. Also, if the youth can get inspired by Films and their characters, how about banning murders, rapes, robberies, adultery, obscenity, alcoholism, eve teasing from Films too?

Author:: Vipin Agnihotri
Keywords:: Bollywood, Smoking, India, Vipin, Agnihotri, Mahesh Bhatt, Film, Amol Palekar
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