'Ban Tamil movies depicting excessive violence'

KUALA LUMPUR: "Don''t just censor but ban Tamil movies and dramas which depict excessive violence."

This is the impassioned call made by community leaders and academicians who are gravely concerned over the growing gangsterism among Indian youths in the country.Malaysia Hindu Sangam president RS Mohan Shan said some Tamil movies were found to have ''coached'' youths on how to be involved in crime although it defied logic when it involved reality.

"While such scenes were merely for entertainment, some of our Indian youths are so engrossed with their screen heroes that they inadvertently, imitated them," he said here today.According to Mohan, Chennai-based Tamil dramas shown over local television stations were also beginning to show negative elements like gangsterism as well, unlike in the past."(I find that) most scenes in a Tamil drama serial depict negative values... it is only towards the end of the story that positive values are shown... by which time, the damage is done," he said.

As compared to old movies which normally reflected on good and positive values, Mohan said that times had changed, with some top heroes taking on the role of the villain.He urged the censorship board to monitor such movies as elements of gangsterism were detected nationwide.In a local daily today, Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim was reported as saying that he would bring up the issue of control over Tamil movies showcasing gangsterism, to the Cabinet tomorrow.

Echoing Mohan's views, senior lecturer S Supramani of Universiti Malaya's Faculty of Languages and Linguistics said the censorship board should "not let Tamil movies depicting violence to be screened to the public".He said the number of movies with negative elements like gangsterism were growing due to the increasing demand from audiences.

Take the good values

Supramani believed that Indian film directors would change the concept in their storyline if the censorship board and public did not support such movies."If there is high demand from us, of course they (directors) will keep on producing movies with violent scenes, all the time," he said.At the same time, he noted that Tamil movies and dramas showed positive, as well. Thus, the Indian community should only take the good values and leave out the bad.However, Tamil Youth Bell Club president K Murali felt that there was minimal impact from Tamil movies, in as far as contributing towards the rise in gangsterism among Indians in the country.

"I am not denying its impact...but it''s not really heavy because there are still many Indian youths who do not imitate the actions, despite frequently watching such movies."It all depends on a particular person...whether he wants to take the good or bad values," he said.Murali also urged Indian youths to get involved in social activities and non-governmental organisations for better job opportunities and rewarding lifestyles for the future.

Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/news/general/10469-ban-tamil-movies-depicting-excessive-violence