Kathmandu— Stakeholders have reached a consensus on the need to find alternatives to scenes depicting the use of tobacco products in Nepali films and music videos. Speaking at an interaction program held in Kathmandu on Monday, participants stressed that such scenes should only be included if they are essential to the storyline.

The program, titled “Dialogue on Tobacco Depiction in Films,” was organized by the Swasthya Khabar Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population, Tax Fund Office, and Film Development Board.

During the discussion, Dr. Bikash Devkota, Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, emphasized the strong influence of cinema on public behavior. “What we see in films shapes our thoughts. Many still try to imitate iconic characters. Therefore, we must seek creative ways to avoid portraying tobacco use in visuals,” he stated, urging artists to set international standards by avoiding reliance on tobacco scenes.

Film Development Board Chairperson Dinesh DC acknowledged that while creativity in films should not be compromised, filmmakers should be cautious of how such scenes affect children. “When I was in school, I saw Rajinikanth flipping cigarettes stylishly, and I wanted to try it too. That’s the power of visuals,” he reflected, stressing the need for responsible storytelling.

Director Janakdeep Parajuli, who also chairs the Directors’ Society, voiced concerns about external pressures from different sectors like police, health, and civil services that could hinder creative freedom. However, he admitted that filmmakers must think seriously about the impact of their choices, even when a storyline demands certain scenes.

Anand Chand, president of Action Nepal, emphasized that films reflect society and thus bear the responsibility of raising awareness. He referred to studies showing a significant number of people learning smoking behavior from what they see onscreen. “It almost appears as though tobacco companies are indirectly promoting their products through such scenes,” he added, calling for raised awareness among creators.

Artist and former president of the Music Video Artists’ Association, Shankar BC, mentioned that such scenes have decreased over time due to growing awareness among artists. He noted that imitation plays a big role in the continued creation of such scenes.

Gopi Krishna Regmi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, explained that the idea for the program originated after observing repeated visuals of tobacco use in films. He stressed that the initiative aims to make creators more responsible by informing them about public health concerns and existing legal provisions regarding tobacco.

Dr. Bhakta Bahadur KC, the ministry’s information officer, also presented the health harms caused by tobacco, urging the arts sector to contribute to public health efforts.

The event was attended by representatives from the film and music video industry, officials from the Ministry of Health and Population, and journalists covering health and entertainment.