Veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar has raised his voice against the double standards of film censorship in India. Speaking at the Anantrang Mental Health Cultural Festival on Friday, he pointed out that while films portraying societal realities face hurdles, movies filled with vulgarity often gain easy passage.
During his address, Akhtar emphasized how the choices of the audience significantly influence the success of films. He stated, “In this country, vulgarity will still be passed by the film boards. They don’t realize 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.”
His comments highlight a pressing concern about how cinema reflects and shapes societal attitudes. Akhtar asserted, “A film is a window into society through which you peek. Closing the window will not fix what is happening outside,” suggesting that the responsibility lies with both filmmakers and audiences.
Addressing the topic of hyper-masculinity in films, Akhtar noted that such portrayals contribute to declining mental health among men. He stated, “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 pointed out that the film industry mirrors societal expectations, saying, “In show business, the audience is god. A bad audience makes a bad film successful.”
Akhtar expressed his disappointment over the increasing prevalence of vulgar songs in the film industry. He recounted how he turned down projects that featured double-meaning lyrics, lamenting the success of such songs despite his refusal to contribute to that genre. He remarked, “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.” Here, he reflected on the song “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” as an example of how societal values have shifted, saying, “If these are the values of society, what can you expect from films and songs? Society is responsible — cinema is only a manifestation.”
Despite his critiques, Akhtar did not shy away from acknowledging positive examples in contemporary cinema. He praised the film ‘Saiyaara’, directed by Mohit Suri, calling its music “refreshingly calm and soulful.” He elaborated, “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 the discussion, Akhtar also shared philosophical insights about sadness and art. He stressed the importance of recognizing and expressing feelings of sadness instead of repressing them. “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 concluded, encouraging openness towards emotional experiences.
