Sex in Indian entertainment

In Indian film and television, there is currently a decrease in the taboo related to the depiction of sexuality. However, many Bollywood films, with an emphasis on the rich, urban class, rarely depict the true beliefs that average Indians have about sex. There is a great taboo on sex in India due to a variety of reasons, many of which involve cultural values either native to India or those that conquering civilizations (such as Islam or Victorian England) have imported to India.

The content is subject to approval and categorization by the Central Board of Film Certification.

An example of the taboo toward sexuality in parts of India is the controversy surrounding the film "Fire" (1996), which depicted a lesbian relationship. Mainstream films still largely cater to the uneducated masses, however art films and foreign films containing sexuality are watched by middle-class Indians. While Bollywood has become liberal in its portrayal of sex in recent years, regional films such as the ones in Kerala remain very conservative. Because of the influence of Hollywood, Indian cinema, particularly the Hindi speaking Bollywood industry, is beginning to add sexual overtones to films. With the most liberal being Bollywood and the most conservative being Malayalam Cinema, India's sexual morality varies with region.

A legitimate pornography industry has not emerged within India. Instead, many low-quality foreign made films featuring Indians are made abroad and then imported, leaving open the possibility of sexual exploitation.

ee also

* History of sex in India
* Pornography in India

References

* "Sex in Indian Cinema: Only Bad People Do It", Mahesh Bhatt, from "Uncertain Liaisons"