Films of Change?

'54% of India's people are in the 15-25 age bracket.This is - well, the future generation - the generation that will define what India will become in the next few decades.' Haven't we heard this argument enough times in enough places?

But somewhere,we fail to realise how its already started changing the dynamic of our everyday existence.Today.

Film-makers have started realising that this is the segment of the population which will make or break a movie.Hence the number of family-entertainment movies have gone down - and the number of movies that appeal to this young audience have increased.The Hum Aapke Hai Kauns of this world have given way to experimental concepts - Dhoom,Salaam Namaste,Darna...series - Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor have given way to Mallika Sherawat and Emraan Hashmi.Yash Chopra now makes movies like Neal n Nikki!!!

I remember there was a time when there were discussions in the family as to whether Rangeela was a good movie to take young kids to - because of the levels of 'exposure' in the movie.Today, 'exposure' is in our drawing rooms - and audiences are lapping it up. Today Salaam Namaste -the 'live-in' movie - has become family entertainment - which just goes to show how the social fabric is fast changing from the times gone by. I'm not suggesting that if I decide on a live-in relationship with someone tommorow - my family will support me - but yes, they surely wouldn't be shocked when I mention it. And that is a HUGE change.

Films are becoming very representative of this 15-25 generation , their ideas and ideologies.And that generation is responding.The latest is a political-party by IIT-passouts promising 'corruption free governance'(seems straight out of Yuva).Then there are Rang De Basanti type candle-light protests at IndiaGate against the court decision on the Jessica Lal murder , another against reservations and quotas. And from the looks of it, these wont be the last ones.

Very rarely do I have positive things to say about Hindi films.They have generally been, well, too filmy for my liking.But if any of the above is even partly because of films - then those films and their messages deserve a pat on the back.

So here's to more RDBs,Yuvas , and a few Murders too!!!