THE CINEMATIC REALITY

 From the embellished walls of shopping malls to commonplace salons, their infectious presence abounds in every corner of this world.  We admire the charisma they wreathe and are swayed by their pompous displays of wit, affection and intelligence. I cannot but be surprised if you haven’t caught a mental glimpse of your adored celebrity by now. But what the common man yearns to know is the ‘dubious’ secret to their never-ending youth and eternal charm!

Everything from the tall and handsome prince falling in love with the lean and fair princess, the silver screen has set immensely tenuous contours of beauty as something confined to the physical self of an individual.  But why does this topic assume importance, especially in the decade where the golden mantra is to ‘live and let live’?  From this standpoint, is this not a violation of the personal space of an individual? Well, let me hit the nail on the head by providing a countervailing argument.

The film fraternity more or less is demonstrative of this entrenchment, where the actors are celebrated for their appealing outward appearance rather than the legacy they ought to leave behind with the grandeur of their art. The cosmetic companies have been the greatest beneficiaries of this public fallacy as they’ve managed to hoodwink the public, who in their attempt to draw semblance with the eternally beautiful celebrity end up burning a hole in their pocket

For ease of understanding and explanation, I’ll use a native, yet popular example: The Hindi film fraternity popularly known as Bollywood. More than the face of Indian cinema it has sought to establish itself as in the recent decades; I see it as an industry where paradox rules.  Even in recent times, where the maverick protagonist’s valiant fight against social taboos and societal norms, (in terms of race, occupation, caste etc) makes billions in the country and abroad, the industry would find itself in hot waters with what it seems to popularise and endorse. Popular actors endorsing fairness creams and anti-aging face packs should be looked upon as just more than unwitting acts by innocent beings whose ultimate goal is materialistic well being. I recall an article that stated that an average Indian worships a cricketer or an actor. As the trendsetters of the country, their influence on the public on matters regarding beauty standards and fashion is massive. 

 Even as the debate regarding the actual impact of cinema and its actors on society seems to be an unsettled matter, it is a matter of fact that it has immensely influenced public opinion and choices for ages. Celebrity advertisements are the biggest evidence to prove that celebrity actions and their influence on the public are not mutually exclusive to each other. 

With social media emerging as an important and popular means for celebrities to connect with the public, it is the moral responsibility of the former to educate the public to embrace their true self, by leading the latter with their personal examples. For this, however, Bollywood will have to call a truce with an unaddressed yet dangerous enemy; REALITY