Desi Galaxy

The world is watching Indian Kissing scandals closely. The world can understand that the public display of affection by kissing hurts Indian feelings. But we have news of complaints filed in Indian courts against the kissing scenes in the movies. Just a few days ago Aishwarya Rai was summoned by the court to explain an “obscene” kissing scene in the movie Dhoom 2.

Christian Science Monitor takes a good look at the Indian sensibilities and the controversy over the Gere-Shetty kissing. In India, a public kiss is not just a kiss is the title of the story. They interviewed people like shopkeepers, college girls and sociologists.

“Courts spend 20 years on rape cases, and here they’ve issued a warrant in weeks,” says Hardeep Singh, sitting behind the counter of his father’s shoe store.

Since Bollywood has taken the lead to break the kissing taboo so it is easily understood why the actors and actresses are becoming victim of public anger. But Bollywood refrains to take part in the debate openly as they have always tried to keep a distance from politically charged controversies. It is not good for their business, I guess. I liked what Dipankar Gupta said while explaining the Indian fury over the kissing scenes in the movies and real life.

“Two very different societies are colliding with each other,” says Dipankar Gupta, a sociologist at Jawaharlal Nehru University here. “Because of the Western influence, the changes here are not a natural evolution.”…
….After all, this is the land of the “item girl” – that would-be Bollywood star whose dancing includes everything short of a pole and a wardrobe malfunction. Yet for all her overt sexuality, the temptress is acceptably Indian. The public kiss is not.