In India, cousins do marry each other (Examples: South Indian communities, Hindu Kurmis of Chunar) and such marriages aren't considered incestuous. Marriage between maternal uncle and niece is also practiced. Just because it doesn't happen in our neighbourhood, doesn't mean it doesn't exist at all. It's very much a part of Indian culture. We should stop pretending like everything that we regard as immoral is imported from western countries.
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Such things are a norm in certain parts of the country and there's nothing wrong in their portrayal on the small screen. If you can't accept reality, stay away from it or get therapy. What people learn from daily soaps is their choice. They can take away the positive or the negative. While some may watch 'Laut Aao Trisha' and become alert and careful, others may think it's acceptable and practice the same. The same can be said about other telly shows. You can watch a 'clean' show and learn to be servile to your husband and treat him as a superior entity, lack career-orientation and accept polygamy or you may learn not to be like those protagonists. You may also choose to mimic villainous characters. If you blame a show for your actions, you are projecting guilt. Yes, the media reinforces value systems but it's you who decides whether to accept them or not.
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Who has given the license to portray sexuality only to reality shows? Any show can depict reality, exaggerated reality or fiction.
Sexuality is natural and all (most) Indian families do is pretend like it doesn't exist. Parents do not teach children about contraception, rape, molestation, incest and the like. They instead create adults who shy away from nature and can watch polygamy, polyandry, domestic violence, molestation, adultery, murder, theft, vandalism, blackmail, abduction and unhealthy machismo but can't accept incest, kissing or any other sexual activity because it's not a family thing and is pervert. Are polygamy and adultery acceptable to Indian families?
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More importantly, we need to stop blaming culture. Media airing kissing scenes or women wearing trousers wasn't always the norm in western nations. At one point in time, they were as conservative as India. Traditions evolve with every generation in every region. We need to stop dictating what should and what shouldn't happen. Terms like moral, immoral, good, bad, right and wrong are subjective. In some villages, marrying within the same administrative unit is seen as incest and not allowed. Does that mean people in small towns and cities should also stop and tellywood shouldn't portray same-village, same-town and same-small city marriages?
Edited by lalalee - 10 years ago
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