Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau Raises Concerns Over Cannabis Depiction in Film ‘Ghaati

Fast Summary

• Telangana’s anti-narcotics bureau, EAGLE (Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement), has raised concerns over the trailer of the Telugu film Ghaati.
• Directed by Krish Jagarlamudi and starring Anushka Shetty, the film allegedly depicts marijuana cultivation and trafficking without statutory warnings against drug abuse.
• Officials from EAGLE stated that such portrayals risk glorifying narcotics, which could negatively influence students and younger audiences.
• The Bureau emphasized adherence to the Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which prohibits all activities related to narcotics including cultivation, sale, transportation, and consumption.
• Motion pictures are urged to scroll disclaimers like “Ganja is banned in India and is extremely harmful to health” during relevant scenes. Non-compliance could lead to legal action under the NDPS Act.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The objections raised by Telangana’s anti-narcotics bureau reflect a growing concern about cultural depictions of drug use in mass media influencing public behavior-especially among younger viewers. The demand for disclaimers aligns wiht broader governmental efforts against drug abuse under the NDPS Act while invoking filmmakers’ responsibility due to cinema’s immersive societal impact.

While artistic expressions often strive for creative freedom, balancing it with social accountability becomes essential when addressing controversial or illegal themes like narcotics in public releases.Adding cautions or statutory warnings may serve as a preventive measure against unintended consequences of normalization or glamorization of such activities within society.Read more: Link