Cinema should play role in resetting our moral compass: Prez

Noting that cinema is a vehicle of influence and persuasion for youth, President Pranab Mukherjee today said content of films should have a desirable impact on the social behaviour of people, especially the new generation, and play a catalytic role in resetting the moral compass.
"It is incumbent on our filmmakers to make a concerted effort to distinguish between what clearly is an art and what is not. The cinematic content of films should have a desirable impact on the social behaviour of people, especially the new generation," he told after conferring the film awards for the year 2013 in various categories at the 61st national film awards function here.

He said a record-breaking number of more than 470 entries were received this year, which is "indicative of the growth of quality cinema in our country and the importance the Indian film fraternity attaches to national film awards.
The President said cinema, being a strong medium of expression, "is a vehicle of influence and persuasion for the youth. When our children witness scenes depicting violence and bloodshed, it does affect their psyche".
"Faced with erosion of values in today's context, cinema should play a catalytic role in resetting our moral compass. Our filmmakers should deploy their creative efforts to present and propagate core values such as patriotism, respect for women, compassion, tolerance, honesty and discipline," he said.