CINEMA & SOCIETY

As we know, cinema is a form of art, which creatively expresses the feelings of humans and a particular society or in other words one can say that the cinema or films are the mirror that reflect the society. Cinema has the potential to play an important role as a medium for social change through entertainment, information and education.

Cinema is a catalyst of a mass culture and mass art. The cinema being a powerful mass media propagate information, education, politics, music & transmission of culture among common masses. Cinema is a social monitor projecting social evils like dowry, corruption, black marketing, unemployment etc. prevalent in the society. Films also propagate fashion styles & mannerism and being a combination of visual movements and sound effects movies have a more connect with the viewers.

While speaking on the debate whether Cinema influences Society or Society influences Cinema, I think filmmakers make  films after getting influenced by a particular area/section/part/class/issue of society and further influence a larger section of society by its mass appeal.

In a country like India with a low literacy rate cinema is an effective mass medium, as such, the filmmakers have a more social responsibility to be honest in making films with a social message rapped with entertainment.

The film of every genre has its impact on the society whether it is Comedy, tragedy, thriller, romantic, science-fiction, social etc. For example Comedy films entertain & relax whereas social or tragic movies provide outlet to the emotions and Science fiction movies propagate information.

It was the era in Indian cinema when big banners were making a good number of movies on social issues such as Achhoot Kanya, Awara, Mother India, Pakeezah, Lajja, Damini, Prem Rog etc. I would not hesitate to say that in a past sometime bollywood has witnessed movies based on strong female characters such as Jab We Met, Queen, Kahaani, English Vinglish, Pink, Akira, Neerja, Naam Shabana etc.

But nowadays top banners have dried up making movies on social issues in general.  There are some filmmakers who work on good projects but they are not popular and doesn’t have a mass appeal. I feel very painful to say that filmmakers make films on social subjects only for screenings in the national/international film festivals and these movies are not even screened in the theatres for the masses.

It means bollywood filmmakers are fully aware of what a good movie is all about (they should be) but they knowingly and consciously make Masala movies with full on entertainment, filthy item numbers, lifestyle of high society, crumbling families, confused love relations, too much violence etc.

Now, the question lies in us that; Are we as a public or movie viewers, not interested in watching movies with a social quotient? Are we insensitive enough to watch the plight of different sections of our society in movies? Are we are so stressed up in our day-to-day life that we want to watch humorous & romantic movies only? Are we missing the required innovation in the bollywood movies which is required after some time?

To conclude I can say that Cinema should be a reflection of society and must contribute positively to it. The characters and incidents in the films should be like that the common masses feel connected with them. The filmmaker should come up with innovative ideas bundled with entertainment so that the movie theatres have audiences. We as public should also watch and promote movies on social issues so that filmmaker feel compelled to make movies on such themes.

–        S. D. BOGAL