SMOKING HOT DILEMMA IN SANDALWOOD

SMOKING HOT DILEMMA IN SANDALWOOD

B-town no longer has to run anti-tobacco warnings during a film, but Sandalwood is yet to get a clear picture on the new ruling

Sharanya CR

Shah Rukh Khan may have found himself in a spot of bother when he smoked during an IPL match in Rajasthan. But Bollywood will now heave a sigh of relief as its films now won't have to run the statutory warnings at the bottom of the screen each time a smoking scene appears.
An earlier notification, which came into effect on November 14, 2011, made it mandatory for all new films to carry the scroll. But a recent RTI report revealed that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to "maintain status quo and adhere to the certification process as was being done before the issue of latest notification." It has also asked the Union Health Ministry "to keep the notification in abeyance till the time the practical difficulties faced by the film industry are resolved amicably."
While this may come into effect for upcoming Bollywood films, back home in Sandalwood, filmmakers and actors are not sure if the rule applies here too. That's not all. There are mixed reactions to the recent development on the anti-tobacco warnings.
'IT WON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE' Srinagara Kitty, actor
"These disclaimers don't make any difference to society. We all know that smoking is injurious to health and that the disclaimer is on the cigarette packets as well. But has it stopped people from smoking? There is nothing wrong in including a statutory warning, but warning or no warning, there will be no effect on those who want to smoke."
'THEY SHOULDN'T REMOVE THE DISCLAIMER' Suri, filmmaker
"People get influenced by the actions of their favourite stars onscreen. I feel that smoking scenes should be minimized in movies. An actor who puffs on a cigar in style, or a villain using tobacco has a huge impact on those watching, especially youngsters who get easily influenced by such actions. Though the warnings cut into the flow of the film, I suggest that they continue to appear." 'STOP STEP-MOTHERLY TREATMENT TOWARDS REGIONAL CINEMA' Indrajit Lankesh,
filmmaker
"Cinema is a creative medium and such restrictions cut into the credibility of filmmaking. Just because Shah Rukh Khan smokes onscreen, it doesn't mean that people are going to follow suit. Moreover, the rules and regulations for regional cinema are more stringent than Bollywood. Even if there is one smoking scene in the film, they give a U/A certificate. They should make it a national rule and stop this step-motherly treatment towards regional cinema."
'I DON'T WANT TO BE A BAD INFLUENCE' Prajwal Devraj, actor
"I've smoked once in a movie as I portrayed a spoilt brat. It doesn't matter if the rules are there or not, but I wouldn't want to be a bad influence on youngsters and get them to take up such a vice."

Shah Rukh Khan in Devdas