Bollywood gone too far?

Is the new era of Bollywood films (Indian cinema) now going to far with the way it portrays scenes of an intimate and sexual nature? Many films seem to be veering towards the Hollywood approach of sexual content.

Or are audiences finding this an acceptable format for Bollywood to adopt due to the influence of Hollywood, Satellite TV and the Internet in South Asia?

Does this mean Bollywood films are no longer watchable in the cinema by a family with children or in the family living rooms where such scenes are uncomfortable, often leading to an elder member of the family reaching for the remote control?

Discussions and surveys on this subject have been interesting with views from some audiences becoming more tolerant of sexual scenes and others finding it harder and harder to watch movies with a family.

In the UK for example, a lot of people look at Bollywood to retain the ‘Indian’ in their movies, hence, preferring less obvious sexual content and a preservation of tradition and culture. With the view that if they want more sexual scenes they are available to them in Hollywood or British movies. Whilst others feel this is progress and is showing the maturity of Bollywood.

‘We have been brought up to believe that sex is dirty and as you grow up you find out that it is not and that it is wrong to think like that. We do need to move forward, we shouldn’t make [sex] such a big issue.’ - Indian females aged 25 – 44, Birmingham

As survey done by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) regarding Bollywood films and sex, found that many people of South Asian roots admit they are far more tolerant of sex scenes in Western films because the West was a much more ‘open society’ but they are more likely to view comparable scenes in an Bollywood film as requiring a higher certificate. This is mainly because they did not want their children to think it was acceptable behavior in South Asian society.

Also, of most concern to people was the potential embarrassment of watching these scenes in the presence of their parents or other elderly relatives. It was felt to be disrespectful and shameful to watch sex scenes in the presence of elders.