– Mrs. Humaira Khan, Principal, Crescent Public School Ballarpur
The recent incident involving four 9th-grade students escaping their hostel after watching Lucky Baskhar raises important questions about the impact of Bollywood films on young, impressionable minds. The students reportedly left with dreams of earning money to buy cars and houses, inspired by the film’s lead character portrayed by Dulquer Salmaan. While cinema can entertain, it also carries significant social responsibility—one that Bollywood sometimes neglects in the pursuit of glamour and sensationalism.
The Influence of Movies on Young Minds
Cinema is a powerful medium, influencing thoughts, emotions, and behavior, especially among children and teenagers. Bollywood’s increasing tendency to glorify shortcuts to success, luxury, and wealth often leaves a lasting impression. When young viewers lack guidance or critical thinking, they may imitate these unrealistic ideals. The incident from Lucky Baskhar highlights how aspirational narratives without moral grounding can misguide children, distorting their understanding of hard work, ethics, and real-world challenges.
Recognizing this, Crescent Public School Ballarpur has introduced a unique subject called School Cinema, which helps children understand the importance of value-based education. This innovative program uses cinema as a teaching tool to instill values like empathy, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Under this approach, students watch carefully selected films that convey positive life lessons. They are then given thoughtfully designed worksheets to reflect on the movie’s message, encouraging them to think critically and relate the learning to their own lives. Programs like School Cinema help bridge the gap between entertainment and education, empowering students to distinguish between reel and real life and develop a grounded understanding of ethics and success.
The Responsibility of Bollywood
Bollywood plays an integral role in shaping the social fabric of India. Unfortunately, many films glorify questionable values—get-rich-quick schemes, unrealistic lifestyles, and a “means justify the ends” attitude. Filmmakers must realize that with millions of young people watching, cinema cannot merely be entertainment; it must also inspire positive change. Stories should encourage perseverance, integrity, and societal values while presenting success in a balanced, realistic light.
Impact on Society and Families
For parents, incidents like these are alarming. Such behavior signals a disconnect between entertainment and real-life guidance. It also reflects societal pressures where wealth and material success are glorified as ultimate achievements. Families need to step up as the first line of defense by fostering open conversations about the difference between reel and real life. Schools, too, play a critical role in guiding children. By implementing programs like School Cinema, educational institutions can provide students with the tools to critically analyze media and adopt values that promote honesty, hard work, and ethical behavior.
At Crescent Public School Ballarpur, School Cinema has proven to be an effective solution, ensuring students learn life lessons through films that inspire growth rather than misguide. By encouraging children to reflect on themes of empathy, perseverance, and integrity, schools can help shape responsible individuals who make well-informed decisions.
Rebuilding the Social Fabric
To preserve the social and moral fabric, a collective effort is needed. Here are some steps:
- Parental Guidance: Monitor what children watch and discuss the values portrayed in movies. Encourage critical thinking and perspective-building.
- Media Literacy in Schools: Programs like School Cinema should be introduced in more schools to help students analyze media responsibly and develop moral reasoning.
- Accountability in Bollywood: Filmmakers should incorporate messages that inspire responsibility, hard work, and integrity. Entertainment can be impactful without glamorizing negative values.
- Balanced Role Models: Encourage children to admire real-life achievers—scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs, and innovators—rather than fictional characters.
A Call to Action
The Bollywood industry must realize its role as a cultural driver and adopt responsibility in storytelling. Simultaneously, schools, parents, and educators must actively shield children from misguidance, fostering values that align with reality and ethics.
With programs like School Cinema at Crescent Public School Ballarpur, children are learning to interpret media critically while embracing core values like honesty, empathy, and hard work. Such initiatives provide hope for a future where entertainment inspires positive change rather than distorting young minds. By working together, we can ensure our children develop balanced aspirations and make responsible choices, strengthening both individuals and society.
Disclaimer:
The above poster has been used solely for informational and educational purposes to highlight the social impact of cinema on young minds. All rights to the images, text, and content belong to their respective creators and copyright holders. No infringement is intended. The use of this poster is not for commercial purposes but to promote awareness about responsible media consumption and value-based education.
