Mumbai, Mar 13 (PTI): With the content of the movies coming under the scanner of Censor Board, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt says cinema should not be blamed for the crime happening in the society.
"I think one can't blame cinema for all the bad things that are happening in the society. There is no evidence that cinema does that. It is all on assumption that whatever bad things happen in society is because of us," Bhatt told reporters at the FICCI Frames event here today.
"We can see that cinema influences, but only cinema cannot be blamed. The day we will get evidence, we will stop making such films," he said.
Bhatt's comments came during a panel discussion on 'The freedom of expression in cinema' held on the second day of FICCI Frames 2013 here.
The other panelists included actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, actor Rahul Bose and Lok Sabha MP Jay Panda.
Haasan's 'Vishwaroopam' had also been embroiled in controversy over the content in the film.
"This is something which not only I have been facing but it has been going on with different people for a while now. This has been going on for years. We should voice it no matter whom it happens to. I think collective consciousness needs to come about," Haasan said.
Actor Rahul Bose feels films do provoke. "Artists do provoke society... questions do get raised by films. But this will only happen when that piece is allowed to be displayed. I think the artists should not be pushed against the wall for them to get together. They are the ones who will change things," Bose said.
Bhatt also feels the writers are living under fear. "The writers today live in fear of the mob outside. Filmmakers are not underground revolutionaries. We are not armed to deal with crazy mobs. Timidity becomes the philosophy and fear is ruling over us," he said.
Comment on this article
A. S. Mathew, U.S.A.
Thu, Mar 14 2013NAG, you have explained it well. How Bhatt can evade from his moral obligation to admit the fact that what the masses see in the movies will have a greater bearing in their practical life and actions.
Those children born in fighting families will end up in the road as criminals, likewise the perpetual exposure of violence at the movie screen will greatly brainwash the young generation to kill and rape. Mr. Bhatt can't escape through his baseless justification!
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shagird, mangalore
Wed, Mar 13 2013Mr mahesh bhat is living in a fools paradise.Thats why he is so much interested in making such filthy movies.
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Nag, Kundapur
Wed, Mar 13 2013There are countless studies done and papers written in western world on negative impact of video games, motion pictures on younger population. Needless to say, Mahesh Bhatt's earnings depend on the thrash they produce and sell to the gullible public in the name of freedom. It is truly tragic that the impact of media was completely neglected in the recent protests in Delhi. Focusing only on strengthening laws while ignoring the cause is like treating the symptoms of the disease while ignoring the root cause.
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