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| Sunday, 2 June 2002 |
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Sel Lipi II ; Strictly for Adults Just before Vesak, the National Film Corporation requested private exhibitors not to screen 'Adults Only' films on Vesak and Poson festival days. Apparently, so many families go to see the 'bioscope' on these days that only films suitable for all age groups should be shown. Actually, this writer had been under the impression that the prime draws on these days were the pandols and 'naatya' that spring up at street junctions. Or else the 'dansal' (alms halls) which appear everywhere. However, the NFC might have a point. This writer went through the films advertised in the newspapers (always a diverting activity) and found that there do not seem to be any English language films which are not 'Adults Only', if not 'Strictly for Adults'. 'The Lord of the Rings' used to be considered something of a children's classic, but the children who loved it have grown up, so the film seems to be for adults. Then there is another, 'an educative film for the youth' as the blurb puts it, but it is 'Strictly for Adults'. So much for children's films. The rest are full of explicit sex or of violence, it appears from the titles: 'Sexual response of the other woman to savage attraction', 'Indecent behaviour of top model in house of pleasure', 'Do or die after illegal entry on 11 days and nights'. Well, something like that. The Sinhalese film audience, on the other hand, seems to be assailed by productions at the other end of the spectrum; those which can only be enjoyed by people with a mental age of 10 or below: 'Pissu Holman', 'Double Jokes', 'Cherrio Parliament'. One shudders just to think of them. As for Tamil films, please don't ask! The most provocative scene this writer has seen was one in which Sivaji Ganesan, fully clothed was dancing with a nubile young actress in a tight saree; they didn't even touch each other, but there was no way any children were going to see it! Which leaves the poor exhibitor in a quandary: what should be exhibited? All that are left are Hindi films. Well, at least there is one Hindi film which fits the NFC bill: 'Asoka', with the handsome 'Pepsi' Khan and one of those delectable Kapoor girls. This writer hopes that you film buffs had a happy Vesak. Those who didn't go to see 'Asoka' could have stayed at home and watched TV and joined in the frenzied and uncensored choreography of the satellite channels. Or did you go out and see a few pandols and 'naatya' and visit a few 'dansal'? - Gotabhaya |
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