Censor it but Censor what???

 Lately, the information and broadcasting ministry stopped the telecast of "The Dirty Picture" on a television channel. The movie was supposed to be telecasted on Sunday at 12:00 noon and was to be repeated at 8:00 p.m. It was a paradoxical decision because Vidya Balan was awarded National Award for "The Dirty Picture". The movie was given an "A" certificate but had gone through major editing and was given "U/A" certificate in order to be screened on the television. But the ministry said that "The Dirty Picture" should not be telecasted in prime time and the children should watch it under parental supervision only. The bigger question is Censor it but Censor what??

The internet has mostly made the television obsolete. "Janta" likes to spend most of their time on internet rather than television. But there are these daily soaps that have kept the existence of television. Firstly, I would talk about the internet.
The internet has emerged as one of the most powerful source of entertainment. India has more than 100 million internet users that include people of mostly all the age groups. The internet gives you whatever you desire and even lures you for some. Children who have access to internet have a direct access to porn and sexual material in a way which is much easier than ever before. With such a large extent of internet, do you think banning the telecast of movies like "The Dirty Picture" will have any effect?. A Google search on porn gives around 2 billion links and searching sex gives more than its double. And I bet, none of this is done under parental supervision. Please don't think I am against internet which provides me and most of us with lots of useful information. Neither I am against watching porn as long as it does not violate the laws of the region. There is a different point I am trying to make.

Sex is and has been a taboo in Indian context. You get weird looks if you use the "S-word", whatever perspective you are talking about. Sex is the thing Indians are afraid of speaking, listening and watching; but due to several rape cases in the country, I am not sure about doing. It is a word not to be spoken in front of girls, family and elders. So where do you go when you want to know something about sex? I have already answered that.

The kids, who are at the step of adolescence want to know a lot about sex. That is where the act of googling sex, porn comes into role and as I have said earlier, the internet lures even more.

I think the time has come when parents stop treating sex noxiously and families start having a healthy talk over it. The government should increase its focus on the safe uses of internet and should promote the parents to use firewalls and other software so that only moderated content reaches to their kids. Most of the responsibilities fall on their parents. When they buy a computer or an internet connection, they must ensure that their child has access to only that content what is meant for him.
Talking of television, I won’t undermine its contribution. It has vast reach to all age groups and social stature.
It is mostly considered harmless and a lot easier to handle. It is fairly simple for the government as well; just ban the movies that they don't feel suitable. Same was the case with "The Dirty Picture". The actress has worn clothes that are too small and gaudy and have made moves that are too provocative and  these reasons are substantial enough. The ministry said it should be watched under parental supervision only but I ask how many parents would dare to watch "The Dirty Picture" with their kids aside?

Other thing that I can’t understand is why only sex is unsuitable? Let me talk about the daily soaps. Most of the Indian families enjoy them sitting together while having their lunch or supper. The channels are quickly switched during the advertisements so that none of them is missed. According to me, these television serials are an attempt to destroy the social strata.

Most of the characters specially the females are dressed in sarees and similar attires so that they are easily identified as common people. A lady is portrayed as vamp she does everything such as hiring goons, planning accidents, getting falsely pregnant to get advantage over her sister in law or friend. A man marries a girl, divorces her, marries another, divorces her, and marries the first one again. Blimey! What image of Indian women do they portray? They simply teach us to distrust each other.

A girl with teary eyes is shouted upon by her mother-in-law but she doesn’t reply because she is an ideal bahu. A rich lady taunts her daughter-in-law‘s parents because they are poor but they don’t reply because they have married their daughter to her son. Cut the crap. I would rather appreciate parents taking some stand and spreading the sense of pride among the girl’s parents. Some serials even cross the marks by showing children as vamps. These serials do no good other than spreading hatred and degrading the social stature of women. But the government is comfortable with such serials and the advertisement of sanitary pads anytime during the day but not with an entertaining movie that shows how few wrong decisions and few wrong people can affect one's life.

To finish, I would like to say that it’s the time we stop treating sex as noxious and obscene and look for some necessary changes that are indeed required. Everything and everyone is getting smarter and they say that smart people move with the wind.