Can films help change society ?

of course the mass media/movie production can change society. But i wouldn't use word "help". "help" is something positive, while mass production can affect society very negatively. Movie can definitely form a certain images, pattern behavior, stereotypes, etc.

All Film companies reduce the number of smoking scenes in their films, some of them have banned these scenes completely.

Movie creates stereotypes that are followed by people. Girls want to look, to be dressed and to behave as their favorite actress. Guys want to act like their hero acts. This is normal process.

Brit, one separate movie might not help one individual become better (but also MIGHT help), but creating a whole image of certain behavior and stereotypes in the society definitely can make this society better (or worse)

in rajanikanth movie.

two lion was coming towards him...

one from left and other from right...

he had only one bullet in his gun..

suddenly he put a knife in frond of his gun and shoot the lion.

the bullet split into two by hitting the knife and killed both lion....

oh sorry......

i forgot to mention...

after watching final destination.

i removed the sealing fan and started using table fan...

after watching tokyo drift.

i learned drifting...

after watching rajanikanth movie...

i stopped watching films....

Did you ever watch Gandhi or Dune ?

films............

sure......

but which film?

all?

never........

i didnt get any message from any film..

nothing from villan...

hero

heroin...

but still my mobile is on...

and any one can send message...

q tel sends me lots of message..

and also from bank...

by the way

why dont we use our mobile to spread message to all..

like health tips...

like job vacancy...

like good ideas...

like latest news...

you know incoming is always free...

it does to an extent

amazingly, no one questioned this time my nationality from neighbours, why i like bollywood ;O)

Are you one of those who started dancing on trains after watching the film with Lucy??

@ WK,chill mate! wasn't referring to you but some people take their bollywood WAAY too seriously so i might get grief from them is what i meant...anyways,like i said mate,to each his/her own...

Bollywood rocks!!!!

Hollywood makes such sissy movies ;)

gadarene nobody is asking you to be influenced by them, I like them you don't.. Let it be... Where does abuse come into it.

and why people ashame of their identity?

oops! i guess there's WAY too many hardcore bollywood fans here!...i'm out of this one...before i get abused!...anyways,to each his/her own...

Haha will wait to hear that

wk

that is nothing

i was a bit inspired with "Dil Wale Dulhaniyan Lejayenge", and then what happened to me when i tried...........Phir kabhi bataonga ;)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Chariots of fire are two that help change people's attitudes..

i was on a continous lookout for my kiran after watching 'Darr' ;)...i dont know for better or worse but i finally found her.

gadarene we were all riding our bikes on highways at crazy speeds after watching Dhoom ;)

gardarene, I believe even those main stream movies do have an impact. Good or bad, well, that lies in the eye of the beholder.

depends on the kind of film...definitely NOT bollywood,that's for sure...oh actually wait...bollywood flicks do help change society...for the worse,by turning people into morons...like the ones on screen...

But if we look at foreign films,indie films,low budget non-mainstream films,true story renditions,etc...they would definitely have some sort of positive effect on society because more often than not,they're based on & depict everyday reality,something that the audience can connect with...

life itself is a movie.

Yes they do...

I do think films have an effect on some a lotta people in society. I did like "The Blind Side", it is a beautiful film and I remember reading an article later about a few people being taken in by that movie and legally adopting afro-american kids like him.

Nomerci is right about the action flicks and well as the chick-flicks.

Rags to riches movies also do have an effect on the less fortunate who strive hard to complete their education and work harder to get noticed.

Surely Film gives up something to the Society....but we viewers are the deciders to get good or bad impact from it...

So,Film makers should not make a movie only for money as they hold hell a lot of Social Responsibility.

yes, I believe they can, and do.

Have you been to an action movie with your husband boyfriend? Did you notice how their stance changes AFTER the movie?

Or how your wife /girlfriend reacts to you after a chick flick?

There are also messages in movies our subconsience (sp? ) absorbs without us noticing.

I do believe movies do to some extent shape how we think.

since long time Americans are getting inspiration from their Hollywood, look at Rambo type movies, perhaps they need another episode to capture Osama and Taliban's leader.

Brit, not for me.....only thing that can have an impact would be real life experience not reel life drama. Whatever is seen is a fiction after all.

Hope you didn't dance on Toy Trains .... :O)

Let me perhaps come at it from another angle..

Let's say you saw Ben Hur or The Message or Ten Commandments or Mahabharata ..

Would they have a long term affect on you... ?

All bollywood movies does is make girls yearn for hopelessly romantic never to be found in real life partners :-)

Movies have effect on one's mood but nothing in long term I think as long as we are watching it knowing that its fiction.

I got confused, but what i think you're saying that Bollywood influences how people dress.

That's fair enough. But what about sending out a moral/ethical/religious message. Do Bollywood films help you perhaps become a better person ?

When CHAIYA CHAIYA song from Dil Se movie was shown I saw so many kids running and dancing on small toy trains,Than Daler Mehandi appeared with hi BOlo tarara and tutak tutak tutiyan....by songs a list is long for Indian cinema becao we start dancing on the current tunes in the marriages and functions like Kajra rey Kajra rey or Beedi Jalai ley..

Than comes dresses of heroins or hero..

Than comes some dialogues...MEIN HOON NA

Than comes marriage stages or dresses or home designing concepts too.

Yes society really moves not much but still a lot in Indian Cinema..

Films indeed changed my life...

Watching movies like Basic Instinct - 1,2 has changed my life drastically....:(

Films can be used to convey a message to the audience. Will we take heed of this message ?

it depends on how the viewer perceives the film

Yes,fims do play a pivotal role in our life..I too agree to some extent that some portion or parts of the film do create impact on our daily lives and can even change the way of thinking and ideas of someone..

check the kids.. you will see it in them.