FEFKA Directors’ Union uses Mohanlal starrer Lucifer’s dialogue in retaliation to claims of cinema promoting violence

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After a series of brutal crimes committed by the young residents of Kerala, there has been criticism aimed at the Malayalam movie industry due to its portrayal of violent scenes.

While some politicians and famous figures advocate for prohibiting violent media content, others believe that cinema has a significant impact on viewers but argue that regulation rather than an all-out ban is more effective. Today, veteran actor Jagadeesh voiced his opinion, pondering whether audiences are swayed solely by the negative aspects of movies and not by their positive influences as well.

Recently, the Film Employees Federation of Kerala’s Directors’ Union voiced their viewpoint in a statement. On March 4th, they released a press announcement, condemning the attribution of cinema being the main cause for youth violence as “ridiculous and baseless.

As a steadfast supporter, I echo their assertion by backing it with hard facts. I believe it’s crucial to understand that violent actions are seldom spontaneous, but rather, they emerge from prolonged mental conditioning and environmental influences. Furthermore, data analysis unveils a chilling truth: countless individuals have sought online guidance on suicide or homicide.

Additionally, they mentioned external media sources like Japanese and South Korean media, known for portraying violent actions. Yet, it’s worth noting that Japan stands among nations with minimal crime levels. This is largely due to their robust legal system, strong social safety nets, and rigorous social oversight.

The Directors’ Union continued their point by stating that movies primarily draw inspiration from societal concepts, with cinema serving as a platform to dramatize these ideas. Furthermore, they pointed out that the judicial system frequently associates synthetic drugs with a significant amount of crime. Yet, these substances are commonly found on university campuses, streets, and even some establishments like hotels and pubs within the state. They raised an interesting question as to whether the excessive use of these drugs could also be linked to their depiction in films.

The FEFKA Directors‘ Union referenced one of Mohanlal’s well-known quotes – “Narcotics is a corrupt trade” – which he uttered in two movies, Irupatham Noottandu and Lucifer. They contend that if this dialogue doesn’t deserve credit for discouraging drug abuse among viewers, then criticizing specific films for fueling the increase of drug abuse is nothing more than hypocrisy.

Additionally, the Directors’ Union released a firm declaration, arguing that the practice of blaming movies for criminal activities is actually a disguise for their inability to manage drug trafficking effectively.

Furthermore, they rejected the idea that art should conform to a specific form, labeling those who advocate for such a viewpoint as “fascistic.” The Union bolstered this claim by citing examples like the prohibition of Salman Rushdie’s book due to its supposed offense to religious sensibilities and the accusation that M. Mukundan’s works promoted drug use among young people. They also raised doubts about whether filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino or Michael Haneke have encouraged violence in American youth.

The FEFKA Directors’ Union voiced their displeasure about Malayalam movies being unfairly scapegoated for systemic flaws and broader societal problems. They contended that rather than critically examining themselves, those responsible are instead shifting blame towards cinema. In closing, the Union emphasized that defending cinema as an art form is a humanitarian act in itself.

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2025-03-04 20:07