Subhash Ghai encourages the need of more Kid's Content

Filmmaker and visionary of Whistling Woods International, Subhash Ghai recently attended the prominent FICCI Frames Media & Entertainment Industry Conclave. The legendary director was a speaker amongst many of the top personalities like Ashish Kulkarni, Mukesh Khanna, M.Srinivasan, Rajiv Chilaka, Nishit Takia and Nina Jajpuria  who had gathered to discuss their opinions on the most crucial issue currently prevailing that India needs Kid's Content Act. 

The owner of the most established filmmaking and  media institute in Mumbai, Subhash Ghai commenced the discussion with his strong viewpoints that today's children lack the knowledge of their own Indian culture and values.  Children are the future of our country and the journey from a boy to a man is influenced by many people around him like his parents, school teachers, friends and most impactful one - Cinema. A young toddler has the most broadest vision as it is ready to think beyond any limits. The content which prevail currently make a child go away from his own culture and allows him to grab values of other countries. Kid's today are aware about foreign superheroes like Batman, Superman, Spiderman etc but little do they know about our Indian heroes who were in Mahabharat or Ramayan. These days younger lots feel talking or believing in our own culture is like an uncool thing. Therefore an act is strongly required to condemn our today's generation from being under the influence of west and this act should jointly be in effort with our directors, writers,distributors and all those who are behind the camera. Need of good content and creative people have to be recognized and  encouraged to make such kind of films which will educate our children. Recalling an incident, the director adds that once he had asked a MBA graduate student whether she was aware who was the father of lord Rama and the student didn't have any answer. The incident left a big thought in the director's mind that how the generation is lacking the knowledge of their own superheroes which are in large numbers in our vast history. 

Concluding the discussion on a positive note, the director shared that Whistling Woods has already initiated their bit in educating the youth by introducing creative art (dance, drama, poetry) in 110 CBSE schools and the number is still on counting. He ended by supporting a strong statement made from his co-panelist Nishit Takia that after Make in India we strongly need one 'Make an Indian'

India needs an Act to regulate kids’ content; provide parenting guidelines

Essential for broadcasters and kids content creators to develop content that balances education and entertainment

MUMBAI, 31 March 2016: To develop and improve the mind set of citizens it was of utmost importance that children were exposed to responsible entertainment and education. Right kind of education was more important than Right to Education. Children consists one-third of India’s population, hence it becomes critical for broadcasters and content creators to develop content which adds value and balances education and entertainment. Therefore, India needs an Act that regulates and monitors the content viewed by children as they are the future citizens of the country. The Act should also provide parenting guidelines.

This was stated by eminent media and entertainment industry veterans at a session on ‘India needs a kids content Act’ on day two of FICCI FRAMES. The kids programming in India needs customization and original content. An effective Act will ensure the largest kids population that India has gets the right content, education through entertainment and save the Indian cultural values and ethos by bringing in the right balance between the foreign content and Indian content.

Mr. Subhash Ghai, Film Maker, said for children to grow as real architects of the nation it was essential that they received extensive and in-depth knowledge about their culture and values. He pointed out that the state of education in India was mediocre and there were many great Indian stories that could be explored for creating content for kids.

Mr. M Srinivasan, Founder, GEAR Education, said that the personality of child develops in the first 10 years and it becomes essential that they were exposed to quality content. Hence, some regulations were needed to ensure that kids received quality exposure. He added that a comprehensive guideline for parents was also needed as the ambience of a child created his/her character.   

Mr. Rajiv Chilaka, Creator of Chhota Bheem, said that there were 630 million kids below the age of 16 years in India and kids’ content creators needed to add value to their properties. He suggested that to reach kids in the rural areas, there was a need for a dedicated channel like Doordarshan Kids as these regions may not have access to cable TV.

Mr. Mukesh Khanna, Chairman, CFSI, said that non-Indian content was being viewed by children as producers were scared to make products for kids as they were bound to lose money. Therefore, a regulation was needed that could encourage producers to develop original content for kids.

Citing the example of the film Baahubali, Mr. Nishith Takia, Producer, Delhi Safari, said that Indian content can be successful. Today children have lost respect for their own culture   and the need was to promote kids content which was rich in Indian values. He added that kids must be taught to value their heritage and they should not be ashamed of their roots.

Ms. Nina Jaipuria, EVP & GM Sonic & Nickelodeon India, Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd., said that when Viacom ventured into the kids segment, 100 per cent content was from overseas but today almost 65 per cent content was Indian. She added that with digitization sharper segmentation has taking place which is helping in reaching more kids as well.

The moderator of the session was Mr. Ashish Kulkarni, Chairman, FICCI Animation & Gaming Forum

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