Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has sharply criticized the double standards in film censorship in India, highlighting that films depicting societal truths face obstruction, while those promoting vulgarity gain approval. His comments came during the inaugural session of the Anantrang Mental Health Cultural Festival held in Mumbai on Friday.
Akhtar addressed the influence of audience choices on film success, stating, “In this country, vulgarity will still be passed by the film boards. They don’t realise that these are wrong values — a male chauvinistic view that humiliates women. But what will not be passed is something that shows the mirror to society,” he noted.
He underlined that films merely serve as reflections of societal realities and should not bear the blame for those realities. “A film is a window into society through which you peek. Closing the window will not fix what is happening outside,” he asserted, stressing the vital role of creative expression.
On the subject of hyper-masculinity and its impact on mental health, Akhtar pointed out that such films thrive due to societal approval. He argued, “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 — and even if they are, they won’t work.”
Akhtar made an intriguing observation by likening audience approval to a form of worship, stating, “In show business, the audience is god. A bad audience makes a bad film successful.” This statement encapsulates the relationship between viewer preferences and the film industry’s direction.
The renowned lyricist expressed his discontent over the growing prevalence of vulgar songs, stating that he has consistently rejected such work throughout his illustrious career. He reminisced, “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. That shows it’s the audience that shapes the industry.”
He cited the controversial song ‘Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai’, criticizing the normalization of such content, especially when parents take pride in their daughters dancing to them. “If these are the values of society, what can you expect from films and songs? Society is responsible — cinema is only a manifestation,” he added.
Amid his critiques, Akhtar took a moment to praise the recent film ‘Saiyaara’, directed by Mohit Suri, and lauded its soothing music. He described it as “refreshingly calm and soulful,” stating, “The music of Saiyaara has a stillness, an old charm. Today, music has become so frantic that percussion drowns the voice. When something soothing comes, it feels like shade in harsh sunlight.”
In a philosophical turn during the session, Akhtar responded to a query about the role of sad songs in mental health. He stated, “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’. This denial of sadness is unhealthy — accept it, cry if you must. That’s what keeps the mind healthy,” he added, offering a thoughtful perspective.
