[Intl-tobacco] Anger at Indian film smoking ban

[robert weissman]

Anger at Indian film smoking ban
BBC News
June 1, 2005

About 800,000 Indians die a year from smoking-related illness

Indian filmmakers have condemned as "absurd" a government move to ban images
of smoking in films and on television from August. Movie-makers said the
move was an infringement of artistic expression and that films were the
wrong target in the drive to curb smoking.

The government says no new films or TV programmes can portray smoking and
old films must carry warnings if they do.

It says 800,000 Indians a year die from smoking-related diseases.

The health ministry on Tuesday said there would have to be a prominent
warning on films and programmes that have already been produced that contain
images of actors smoking - whether Indian or foreign. It said all logos of
tobacco products from now on must be masked or cut out.

'Joke'

Film director and producer Mahesh Bhatt condemned the move. "One would
understand a ban on surrogate advertising, but to completely ban [smoking]
is ridiculous, a joke taken too far."

Fellow filmmaker, Shyam Benegal, said: "The government should, instead, go
after the source - the guys who produce tobacco and make tons of money."

Leading actor Anupam Kher said the move could be the start of a worrying
trend: "Tomorrow, the government can turn around and say don't show guns in
movies as it will encourage violence."

But the government is standing by its decision and has the support of
national and global health organisations. Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss
said: "More and more youngsters and women are taking up tobacco use." The
World Health Organisation said the move would help cut India's
smoking-related deaths.

Harsaran Pandey, WHO's spokeswoman for South-east Asia, said: "The portrayal
of attractive people smoking has an influence on young people as some of
them identify with those on the screens."

Last year, smoking was banned in public places in India and a ban imposed on
tobacco firms' advertising in and sponsoring of sporting events. The new law
also requires manufacturers to list tar and nicotine content on packets.