Up in a cloud of smoke

Much has been written and spoken about (and mostly and quite rightly against) the recent crusade by the government to prevent the depiction of cigarettes and smoking in films and television programmes across India. What few know is that this newest form of inane moral policing isn't the brainchild of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which is mandated to handle issues of this nature. Instead all efforts in this direction have apparently been made by the Health Ministry, under the honourable stewardship of Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss. Even if we give the good doctor the benefit of doubt as far as his intentions are concerned, there have to be serious questions regarding the practicability of his proposals. For one, tinseltown is agitated because they will now be forced to ring in several changes of script in films already on the floor, some even ready for release. Secondly, the task of implementing the ban on tobacco brand names from even flashing momentarily on television screens is quite frankly going to be an impossible one. There are at present close to 300 television channels aired in India, many of which are beamed in from foreign countries where Indian regulations have no standing. Even for channels beaming from within India, ensuring complete censorship of this nature will be arduous to say the least -- can you imagine a news channel doing an innocuous story on the latest car rally in town and suddenly having to blip out the portions where a Marlboro-sponsored car whizzes past? Apart from the obvious question of what difference this sort of censorship will make (if anything, it will probably attract more attention to the expunged brand!), there is also concern about how these regulations can be implemented and monitored on an ongoing, long-term basis. Clearly this isn't the last we've heard of this saga. Bollywood bigwigs are already lining up to have their views heard, and I'm quite sure the tobacco lobby would have more than a thing or two to say as well. Dr.Ramadoss and his able colleagues will need more than just a "we're out to cure the world" attitude in their defence. Let's hope that this at least prompts them to have a look at some cold statistics, because that will be quick lesson in the infeasibility of what they're setting out to achieve.