Violence-free tele shows, cinema hard to come by

by Mohammed Naalir

Contrary to the main goal of entertaining people while delivering messages favourable to the society certain teledramas create a violent mentality in the minds of viewers.

It is the bounden duty of all intellectuals and media institutions to take the correct path to minimise acts of violence in the society. There is a need to find a suitable way to convey productive messages to the people sans violence. Teledramas and films can be considered as productive means to deliver good messages to the people.

It is the responsibility of film and teledrama producers to have some ideas important to the society. Teledrama producers and film producers deviate from the correct path glorifying violence and malpractice.

Many foreign teledramas destroy our traditions and cultural values. Certain South Indian tele dramas have caused severe damage at domestic level. Certain films and teledramas cannot be viewed by the whole family as they are filled with violence.

There is no substance in the teledramas which depict corruption, malpractices and violence against women and children.

Certain teledrama plots are far from fact. A father will never hand over the son or daughter to a terrorist gang to carry out scientific research on a life killing poison. A grandfather is unlikely to sacrifice a child for a treasure hunt. Those are just two examples from certain South Indian teledramas and films. The rampant violence in movies and teledramas has severely affected children and youth.

Some try to attract the people but they do not think of the harms caused to the society owing to these teledramas and movies.

Certain South Indian teledramas are similar to fairy tales that could never take place. Millions of people throughout the world watch television alone or with children. The teledramas must deliver good a messages which are important to society. Children must get some ideas to build their future without becoming anti social. Many teledramas and movies violate this philosophy.

According to Professor of Psychiatry of the Colombo University, Dr. Nalaka Mendis, children must be brought up showing love and compassion in a violent free atmosphere. If a child was brought up in this manner it would be fruitful not only the family but also to the entire country. Giving proper education to the children is crucial, he added.

Certain teledramas are produced to brainwash the children towards committing anti social acts.

Certain teledramas and movies might cause severe damage to growing children. Research has confirmed that children have become addicted to certain adventure series being telecast on TV, for instance "Knight Rider". Some teledramas violate ethics that should be strictly followed. They give ideas to commit crimes and engage in anti social activities.

Abduction, smuggling and murder are normal occurrences in certain tele dramas.

The message delivered by certain teledramas is not conducive to the moral values of the society particularly for children in their formative years.

Women and children and youth are the main victims.

They cause severe damage to Sri Lankan women in various ways. First of all they encourage men to behave violently against women. Majority of men in teledramas act violently against women or torture them psychologically.

The worst thing is, it shows how culture can be used as a weapon to torture women and new techniques of violence against women.

Violence and harassment against women has become `normal' in teledramas and movies.

As teledramas are very close to the people it must build mutual understanding in society while protecting ethnic harmony.

The producers must pay considerable attention towards the sustainability of society.