Make no mistake.  If there is one horrible influence on youth in our country, it is nothing but Cinema.  Be it cinema in Hindi, or Tamil or Telugu or just about any other language.

One really shudders to think what will happen if present trends continue, and whether there will be any salvation at all.

Firstly, most of Indian cinema is based on cooking up a very exaggerated version of reality.  Nothing that is shown in movies mirrors life in general.  A few exceptionally good movies like 3 idiots in Hindi, or family operas like Samsaram Athu Minsaram, in Tamil , are real exceptions.  

What is commonly shown is some hero chasing a pretty girl, around many trees and singing as if there is no tomorrow!  In fact, many youngsters think that they can fall in love with girls in a similar fashion.  There are instances where girls are even forced to fall in love!

This absolutely ridiculous trend has no meaning at all.  

Worse, the meaning of true love, of affection is never shown at all.  In the past we have had some excellent movies like Sankarabaranam, in Telugu.  This movie gave a huge importance to traditional carnatic music, and was centered around the devotion of a woman towards a musician.  The movie went on to make big waves throughout India.

Films that have meaningful violence, with a strong message, and a very strong story, often based on some real life character, have had superb impact in terms of conveying the real message. 

The story of a gangster, based largely on Godfather, was shown in Nayakan.  This Tamil movie, with Kamal Hasan as the hero, went on to win the National Award for the best film, and the best actor as well.

What is really important is that we need to have cinema that will not damage society.  If there are some powerful messages, such movies are always welcome, irrespective of the language.  The central message will become obvious to even those who do not understand the language.

The Tamil film Indian, belonged to this variety.  The film exposed corruption in many walks of life.  The anti hero, took to murdering the people responsible for corruption and their wrong doings.  He went to the extent of murdering his own son.

The two roles, that of the father and the son, played by Kamal Hasan, was celebrated as a wonderful movie.  At least two percent of the people who viewed the movie, would have changed a bit after seeing it.

Similarly, in recent times, the film called Vishwaroopam, in Tamil, exposed how terrorism develops into a fine art, and the root cause of terrorism.

However, the Indian cinema, in general, is far removed from social themes.  Most of what is shown is absolutely commercial 'love" that has no meaning at all.

One really wonders why the movie makers do not have any conscience and dish out the masala fare, day in and day out.  Except for 3 idiots, one can hardly count any Hindi movie in the same league.  

Telegu and Tamil movies which are the most produced after Hindi, do have a chance of making some social impact, but they fall really far behind.

In particular, the movies where the hero is shown boozing or smoking, are really dangerous.  The youth tend to imitate their heroes in real life, and take to very harmful things.  A few years ago, a very young student poured acid on the face of his girl friend, who actually refused to "love" him.  The girl lost her life, and the boy was done to death in a police encounter.

Mindless violence is also very harmful.  Our hero men are very handsome, and can do anything.  They can manage to bash up, single handed, over eighty guys on top of a train!  The entire audience goes to nuts while seeing such scenes.  At least some part of it, gets repeated in real life.  In fact, chain snatching, shown in many movies, has lead to increase in such events in real life.

Worse, rapes shown in Indian movies are very violent, and simply go all the way to stir up the animal instincts in man.  When man thinks he can get off with anything like rapes, he tends to do it, very bravely.

Rapes are now going on, almost every day, throughout the country, and Indian cinema is one major cause of this social problem.

Parents in almost all houses are unable to do much, to wean away children from the negative influence of Indian cinema.  They do try to advise children, but peer pressure and the environmental influences are so severe, that we have already reached the point of no return.

Indian fashion is influenced through Indian cinema.  Movies are trend setters, and many girls try to wear the exact outfits that our dear women wear on screen.  Even when these outfits cross all limits of decency, nothing much happens. This is a very disturbing trend indeed.

We cannot simply say that Indian cinema is what it is, and wash away all our sins or simply wish away the problem.  The role of teachers is vital, in both schools and colleges.  The current trend of school children falling in love, which is largely influenced by Indian cinema, needs to be arrested and the children involved, should be counseled properly.

There is more to college life, than mere love, and this has to be really told to the students in no uncertain terms.  

The college girls are particularly vulnerable.  The boys tend to make them compulsorily fall in love, and imitate their stupid hero men, who literally dictate what is love, on screen. The teachers should obviously chip in with their expertise and help the children to reform themselves.

If we do not take action now, the Indian cinema will continue to make harmful influences on youth.  As a nation, we cannot afford all this.

At homes, if parents spend quality time with their children and take interest in their studies, there will be less of problems.  The children will have a feeling that their parents care for them, and hence would not go down the wrong path.

A big concerted effort is now needed, and we should act rather fast.