....and all that jazZ

Monday, June 13, 2005

Cigarette smoking is injurious to health.


So the government is proposing a ban on showing actors smoke on screen. That is the stupidest thing to do. Not the way to go about discouraging smoking. How about banning cigarette endorsements in any and every form? Or increasing the tax on it so much that a smoke is unaffordable. How about talking about it in classrooms ? By actually enforcing no smoking in public places esp discotheques and bars and restaurants ? No, but they had to find the stupidest way of doing it. By killing creative freedom.

Now just a counter point. I think media is the most powerful thing around on this earth today. We live on what they feed us. And to say that in India, Bollywood does not influence kids/adolescents (who are the target consumers for cigarette and alcohol selllers) is to turn a blind eye to things. Where you need Amitabh Bachchan to sell Hajmola and Aamir Khan to sell Coke, it is obvious that the common man only aspires and dreams to be like his favourite filmstar. I still remember when Aashiqui was released a couple of foolish girls from my high school actually burnt their hands with a candle (immitating Rahul Roy) to declare their love for equally foolish boys. Now, someone may not pick up a cigarette by seeing Shah Rukh smoke on screen, but him doing it definitely does endorse the habit to a certain extent. He does'nt need to quit if he does'nt want to, but its an undeniable fact that there are plenty of foolish people who think they are cool because they smoke and Shahrukh, the supposed ultimate cool dude doing it only affirms it for them.

Flipping back to where I started from, its stupid to put a ban on it in cinemas all the same. On that train of thought, filmmakers in India really need to grow up fast. We need them now. When society is changing so much and so fast. The medium being so powerful its completely wasted in India when compared to other parts of the world. Escapist cinema is all fine. I understand that thats what the avg man on the streets wants to see. But he needs to know more. He needs to be educated. If used correctly it can bring about a revolution of thought. Change perspectives. And who says good cinema cannot be entertaining. For every Bunty aur Babli there should be a Swades. But no. They wont. The monetary gains in making foolish movies are too big to be disregarded.

Anyways, so let me try this. I'll hold out an ash try and very coyly say " Cigarette smoking is injurious to health. Sehat ke liye haanikarak hota hai." Now imagine that MPK tune playing in your head and please put out your cigarettes. :)


6 Comments:

  • Ya, it was stupid. The government does a lot of stupid things. Why be surprised?

    Originally @ Jun 14, 2005 12:04 PST

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:53 PM  

  • True. :) I guess I am still hoping !

    Originally @ Jun 14, 2005 13:14 PST

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:53 PM  

  • I agree with you on the idea that such ban is hysterical. But on the other hand, the basic intention behind the motive is absolutely justified. The issue, though is about the balance. I am yet to find my own :)
    -- Akshaya

    Originally @ Jun 15, 2005 09:40 PST

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:54 PM  

  • intention behind the motive ? :) :)

    Originally @ Jun 15, 2005 16:33 PST

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:54 PM  

  • OMG..I wasn't drunk last night :(

    Sorry...I meant the intention behind the step :-|
    -- Akshaya

    Originally @ Jun 16, 2005 22:13 PST

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:54 PM  

  • You have done a good job with your knowledge that makes our work easy because you are providing such good information. Keep sharing this kind of knowledge with us. Cigarette Delivery Nottingham

    By Blogger William Jessie, at 2:50 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home