Does Indian cinema educate and entertain?

INDIAN CINEMA... EDUCATES AND ENTERTAINS? Award winning film-maker and actress Nandita Das once said, “Without poets, artists, and film-makers, men would soon weary of nature’s monotony. The sublime idea that men have of the universe would collapse with dizzying speed. The order which we find in nature, and which is only an effect of art, would at once vanish. Everything would break up in chaos. There would be no seasons, no civilization, no thought, no humanity; even life would give away, and the impotent void would reign everywhere.” Unquote. Cinema, being the most emphatic form of art, is no exception to this notion. A very good morning to one and all present here. I stand here before you to strongly propose the notion, Indian Cinema educates and entertains. In India, cinema is very near to the lives of people, or rather, it is right inside the hearts of people. The large screen provides an alternative, an escape from the realities of day-to-day life. The influence that the cinema exerts on the minds of those who visit it is influential, educational and entertaining, all at once. Most people today don’t fail to watch every movie’s first day, first show. It gives them a clean break from their daily, mundane lives and provides them with three or four welcome amusement. Todays film-makers, with their breathtaking locations, extravagant styling and over-the-top budget, have made sure that each one of their films redefines entertainment. Also, the films shown in cinema are often very informative and instructive. They aware the people of the mis-happenings, and what their recklessness can lead to. Films also educate us on the activities and customs of other lands. In some ways, films have also given people an insight into the past, benefitting even the ill-literate. Students too, often benefit from a visit to the cinema. What they see and hear in a theatre makes a more lasting impression on their minds than only the spoken words