Marco actor Jagadish and the Film Employees Federation of Kerala have responded to the Kerala government's and police's criticism regarding violence in films. They argue that films shouldn't be held responsible for provoking violent behavior.

Here's what the Chief Minister of Kerala and the police had to say

Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan raised concerns on Monday about the glorification of violence in films and TV shows, highlighting its possible effects on young audiences. He pointed to the recent Malayalam movie Aavesham, mentioning a police report that indicated some students tried to connect with real-life gangsters after watching it, as reported by PTI.

Vijayan expressed worries about the negative influence of such media, referencing a well-known line from Aavesham featuring Fahadh Faasil. He questioned whether there’s a censor board to oversee this kind of content, saying, “It’s alarming how violence is celebrated in films and shows.”

In response, the Kerala Police have reached out to the Ministry to help restrict access to violent content, including graphic video games, due to their impact on impressionable youth. A senior official noted that while watching violent films or playing realistic games isn’t the main cause of crime, it can still influence young people, especially those involved with drugs. They pointed out that this could lead to serious issues like schoolyard fights, domestic violence, and severe hazing incidents in college hostels, especially after a recent tragic incident involving a class 10 student in Kozhikode.

Other politicians and influential figures have also weighed in on this important issue.

How did Jagadish, the actor from Marco, respond?

Jagadish was out there promoting his new film Parivar when he got asked about his thoughts on a certain issue. The actor stood up for cinema, pointing out that just because people didn’t embrace Gandhism after watching Lage Raho Munna Bhai, it doesn’t mean they’re only swayed by negative influences. He mentioned, “Lage Raho Munna Bhai encouraged people to embrace Gandhism; how many actually did? So, are we saying folks are only influenced by bad stuff, not the good? And what about the actors?”

He brought up his character Tony Issac from Marco, who supports violence, but he personally doesn’t. “So, do people prefer Tony Issac or Jagadish? If you like Jagadish, remember that I’ve never backed violence. I promote love when I visit schools and colleges. So, if the audience buys into Tony Issac’s message but not mine, then that’s definitely up for discussion,” he said.

The Kerala Film Employees Federation's reply

The Film Employees Federation of Kerala put out a statement on Tuesday. According to PTI, union president Renji Panicker and general secretary G S Vijayan mentioned that they’ve considered the views of the government, political figures, psychologists, media, and law enforcement, all suggesting that certain films push young people towards violence.

In their statement, they said, “These views stem from a weak and overly simplistic idea that the ‘violence’ shown in films leads to social issues. Violence is a complex topic studied across various fields. Research shows that factors like social, cultural, and economic insecurities, along with feelings of alienation and marginalization, can actually lead to violent behavior.”

They also pointed out that cultural influences can come from anywhere, thanks to the explosion of media, including web series, games, and films from abroad. “It’s well-known that some of the most violent films come from Korea and Japan. Yet, Japan has one of the lowest crime rates, thanks to its effective legal system and social security measures,” part of the statement read.

In a world where information is readily available, blaming films for ‘creating’ violence is unfounded, they argued, adding, “To claim that films are the main cause of violence is ridiculous and untrue. Do movies incite sexual violence and contribute to rape culture? Is cinema responsible for the ideological decline seen in political parties and the corruption plaguing governments?”

The statement emphasized that films are rooted in the realities and ideas of society. They noted that while police, media, and other authorities point to drug abuse as a major factor in many crimes, it’s unfair to hold a few films that depict these issues accountable for social problems. “It’s disheartening to see those who should be engaging in serious self-reflection instead taking the easy route of blaming cinema.”

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