The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : To smoke or not

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Friday, Jun 03, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

To smoke or not

The Centre's move to ban smoking scenes in movies and tele-serials is a step in the right direction. Such scenes are invariably linked to some sort of machismo that corrupts young minds. Surrogate advertisement of alcohol in movies and serials should also be banned.

K. Durgaprasad,
Coimbatore, T.N.

* * *

The ban is a novel idea. But the question is: will it really discourage smoking? Liquor advertisements have already been banned on television. Has it resulted in a decline in the number of those who drink?

Badekkila Pradeep,
Bantwal, Karnataka

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The move is welcome and laudable. The Governments both at the Centre and in the States should also initiate a well-organised educative campaign against smoking.

Y. Jagannatham,
Vijayawada, A.P.

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It is more important for the Government to stick to its decision and not give in to pressure from the film industry. As for old movies (Letters, June 2), the regulation contains a clause that if there are such scenes pre-dating the ban, they should be accompanied by a statutory warning.

S. Nallasivan,
Tirunelveli, T.N.

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That youngsters are influenced by movies has been proved. Producers should also have strict control over unnecessary scenes depicting violence, drinking and sex.

K. Venkataraman,
Mumbai

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The blanket ban on smoking may be welcome. But it should not come in the way of veracity. Before the awareness of the dangers of smoking became common, a number of people were heavy smokers. So in a film set in the 1940s, it will look odd if no one smokes. Satyajit Ray, for instance, was a heavy smoker. If his biography is made a film, it will not be truthful if he is shown without a cigarette. Can one make a film on Bertrand Russell without his pipe or one on Churchill without his cigar? Exceptions to the rule should be made for the benefit of truthfulness in art.

J. Vasanthan,
Madurai, T.N.

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The ban is ridiculous. Movies are purely an entertainment medium. Creativity will be curbed if the film-maker is asked to work within set parameters. People do not consider movies the ultimate truth.

On the other hand, we see on television bureaucrats and politicians being arrested every other day on charges of corruption, fraud, even rape and murder. They have no qualms about waving to the crowds before getting into the police van — some even show the `v' (for victory) sign. They are the ones supposed to set standards in society. Should they not set their house in order before making a law on what or what not the people should see?

V.S. Gopalarathnam,
Chennai

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The move is a half-hearted attempt by the Government to show that it is doing something about nicotine addiction. If you restrict the film-makers from showing everything that is bad (sex and violence included) we will end up having 20 remakes of Baktha Prahalaada every year and no more. Wonder how Bollywood and Kollywood will portray villains from now on!

R. Venketesh,
Chennai

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