The New Nation - Internet Edition

BEFORE the advent of the satellite television, cinemas had been almost the main medium of entertainment for people of all walks of life. Movies were the main mediums to project art and culture as well. But films have now lost that glory. Those are increasingly being abused with the addition of obscene footages, vulgarism, nudity, sex, violence, horror and absurdity. Vulgarism and nudity have become inseparable from a large number of contemporary Bangladeshi cinemas. At present, the young generation and people of low-income groups who cannot afford to buy television sets and other electronic entertainment devices are the main moviegoers. The vulgar movies leave serious harmful impacts on their character and mental make-up. The alarming tendencies of increased drug addictions, violence, immoral sex habits and crimes are fostered by such films.

Films are subject to censorship. It is obligatory for every film to go though scrutiny by a film censorship board. No film can be released for public show without a censor certificate. But the censorship board stationed in the capital has proved to be inadequate to ensure keeping films free from vulgarity. Local government bodies reportedly do not see whether censor restrictions are strictly followed later on. It is alleged that after receiving a censor certificate, movie makers add to the films so-called 'cut pieces' containing vulgar scenes. In absence of an effective monitoring system, the dishonest section of filmmakers and distributors are doing illegal business promoting vulgarity. A Task Force of the Film Development Corporation (FDC) has been formed with a view to saving the film industry from nudity and vulgarity. It is reported that the TF is engaged in making a list of the producers, directors, actors-actresses and distributors involved in making such films. The perpetrators would be banned from the FDC premises and punished duly. Such an initiative was long over due. It is hoped that this initiative would help free movies from vulgarity and bring back the industry's past glory.

But the efforts of a central censor board or a task force, while very urgent and necessary, are not enough to guarantee permanent results. In this era of sophisticated technologies, the makers of nude films will find alternative ways to carry on their misdeeds. The local administration should play its due role to stop the screening of vulgar films. On the spot strict monitoring by local government bodies would help stop vulgar film shows. The local administration should regularly monitor film shows in cinema halls, confiscate vulgar movies, cancel licences issued to cinema hall owners and penalise the violators of laws and rules. Local elite may be involved to support the official efforts. The task force should be able to identify and haul up the rackets involved in ruining the traditional entertainment medium and causing harmful social impacts.