Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has sharply criticized the double standards in India’s film censorship system. Speaking at the Anantrang Mental Health Cultural Festival on Friday, he pointed out that films that reflect societal realities face significant hurdles, while those filled with vulgarity and regressive themes pass through with ease.
Akhtar’s remarks come at a time when the Indian film industry grapples with questions about artistic expression and censorship. He emphasized the profound influence of audience choices on the types of films that achieve success, stating, “A bad audience makes a bad film successful.”
During his address, Akhtar lamented that film regulatory bodies often approve vulgar content that perpetuates male chauvinism and degrades women. Conversely, films that aim to hold a mirror to society’s issues often face obstacles in getting approved. “In this country, vulgarity will still be passed by the film boards,” he remarked. “They don’t realize that these are wrong values.”
He elaborated that films serve as a window into society, and closing it would not rectify societal issues. “A film is a window into society through which you peek. Closing the window will not fix what is happening outside,” he remarked, underscoring the importance of allowing genuine depictions of reality in cinema.
Akhtar also addressed the concerning trend of hyper-masculine portrayals in films and their impact on mental health. According to him, society’s acceptance of such films indicates a deeper issue. “It is because of the mental health of men that such films are being made. If men’s mental health improves, such films won’t be made,” he explained.
Drawing a parallel with faith, he emphasized the audiences’ significant role, stating that in the show business, “the audience is god.” He expressed disappointment over the rise of vulgar songs in Bollywood, stating that he has declined to work on double-meaning songs throughout his career. “During the 80s, many songs had double meanings, but I refused to write them. I’m not sad that people recorded them — I’m sad that those songs became superhits,” he confessed.
He referenced the controversial song ‘Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai’, expressing disappointment that parents take pride in their daughters dancing to such tracks. “If these are the values of society, what can you expect from films and songs? Society is responsible — cinema is only a manifestation,” he asserted.
Despite his critique, Akhtar found positivity in the recent film ‘Saiyaara’, directed by Mohit Suri and featuring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. He praised its music for being “refreshingly calm and soulful,” adding, “The music of Saiyaara has a stillness, an old charm.”
As he navigated through various themes, Akhtar also touched on the topic of sadness in art. Responding to whether listening to sad songs can make someone more depressed, he shared a philosophical view. He suggested that denying sadness could be detrimental. “It’s not good to deny sadness; otherwise, it will resurface elsewhere. Earlier, every film had one or two sad songs, but now they’ve vanished because we believe ‘achhe din aa gaye hain’,” he explained. This denial of sadness, he argued, is unhealthy. “Accept it, cry if you must. That’s what keeps the mind healthy.”
