Smoking ban on film

It has been some time that the government issued a ban on depiction of smoking on film. Now, is this a good idea?

Mahesh Bhatt went on record blasting the thought. My suggestion to him would be to have drinking introduced in films meant for islamic countries he is so much in love with. After all, what about freedom of expression?

I salute Shah Rukh Khan, himself a chain smoker, candidly explaining that it is not really necessary to depict smoking on screen.

I smoke occasionally - didn’t pick it up from a lead actor - it was simply a pretence for me in college - a recognition of myself having grown up (supposedly), having become free to take decisions on my own. I drank much before I smoked simply because I never thought drinking was bad / wrong.

Back to the point - is a young guy in a low-educated village as thinking as I am? Does he take decisions as consciously? My answer would be no.

In poor India, where there is a lack of competition (marred further by reservations) as well as entertainment, an occasional film may provide the uninitiated youth an opportunity. The lead actor, admired by the village, smokes on screen. Being like him is an opportunity to be recognised. THIS is what the actual harm of forced equality / communism is. As a friend of mine says, some desire is necesaary to keep the world going. Materialism is good. Competition is necessary.

In light of this, the ban on screen smoking is not entirely a bad idea, is it?


Comments, please.