Indian Attitudes about the portrayal and discussion of Sex

The topic of sex is taboo in different ways that it is in the Western world, most notably in the mass media. In some ways, Indians are more open than Westerners about discussing relationships, particularly romantic love, marriage, and childbirth. These things are inherently linked to the act of sexual intercourse, though, and that is generally not discussed.

Bollywood movies often have much more explicit innuendo than Hollywood movies. Whereas pulp Hollywood movies will show nudity and sex gratuitously, Bolllywood movies will make sexual passion the focus of a movie without so much as mentioning it. Indian directors usually attempt to fill their movies with emotion. In dance scenes – and Indian movies almost always have dance scenes – the routines are sometimes as racy with male-female contact as a scene can be without removing clothing (wet and tight fitting is okay), miming a real sex act, or kissing.

Public kissing is taboo in India. In 2007 there was a controversy about an American actor, Richard Gere, kissing an Indian actress, Shilpa Shetty. Enough people called for the imprisonment of Mr. Gere that the movement was described worldwide in the media. This is in the wake of the political party Shiv Sena’s movement against the Western holiday Valentine’s Day. Many other citizen groups oppose Valentine’s Day because of the principles they think is behind it.

Some people oppose Sanjeevani Booti because we teach safer sex practices, such as the use of condoms to prevent transmission of diseases and HIV testing for everyone. A lot of local people support us also. Our biggest problem is that we have difficulty getting support – even just verbal support – from community leaders and politicians. A big part of the withholding of that support is the attitude of the media. We are raising issues that are currently outside the scope of India?s mass media.