Score:
9.5/15
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Topper’s Copy
GS1
Art & Culture
15 marks
Cinema plays an important role in shaping the values and attitudes of society. Discuss its positive and negative influences on India's social fabric with suitable examples.
Student’s Answer
Evaluation by SuperKalam
Demand of the Question
- How cinema positively shapes values and attitudes in Indian society
- How cinema negatively influences and harms India's social fabric
- Suitable examples showing both positive and negative impacts of cinema
What you wrote:
In the words of Satyajit Ray, "Cinema is like a mirror which reflects the society alongwith its scars", it has reflected the existing realities which actively shapes public values, attitudes and behaviours.
In the words of Satyajit Ray, "Cinema is like a mirror which reflects the society alongwith its scars", it has reflected the existing realities which actively shapes public values, attitudes and behaviours.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could separate cinema’s role in reflecting society from its role in changing people’s attitudes.
- Can briefly signal both beneficial and harmful influences to introduce the balanced discussion.
What you wrote:
Positive influences:
i) Cinema as a cultural force has shaped the way we think, dress and act.
E.g., Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara sparked a trend for international travel and celebrating life's moments
Queen, encouraged self-reliance and independence among women
ii) Connecting with people's emotions, Cinema has straightened sense of connection, fostered deep empathy, emotional intelligence and interpersonal healing.
E.g. -> Taare Zameen Par - Embracing Special Needs
Bajrangi Bhaijaan, compassion transcends geopolitical & religious divides
iii) Challenging social stigmas, such as caste discrimination, systemic biases, taboos & patriarchal norms.
E.g., Pink, "No means No" - Choice of a women
Pad Man, Taboo of menstruation in mainstream
Article 15, Horrors of caste-discrimination in rural India
iv) Fostering National Integration, Cinema unites a high diverse nation under shared emotional experiences, highlighting communal harmony & patriotism.
E.g., Chak De! India, Border, LOC, etc
Positive influences:
i) Cinema as a cultural force has shaped the way we think, dress and act.
E.g., Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara sparked a trend for international travel and celebrating life's moments
Queen, encouraged self-reliance and independence among women
ii) Connecting with people's emotions, Cinema has straightened sense of connection, fostered deep empathy, emotional intelligence and interpersonal healing.
E.g. -> Taare Zameen Par - Embracing Special Needs
Bajrangi Bhaijaan, compassion transcends geopolitical & religious divides
iii) Challenging social stigmas, such as caste discrimination, systemic biases, taboos & patriarchal norms.
E.g., Pink, "No means No" - Choice of a women
Pad Man, Taboo of menstruation in mainstream
Article 15, Horrors of caste-discrimination in rural India
iv) Fostering National Integration, Cinema unites a high diverse nation under shared emotional experiences, highlighting communal harmony & patriotism.
E.g., Chak De! India, Border, LOC, etc
Suggestions to improve:
- Could connect the travel example to changing aspirations, rather than treating it as an inherently positive social influence.
- Can explain how one film under national integration builds a shared identity across social differences.
- Could group the positive points around clear values such as independence, empathy, equality and shared belonging to reduce overlap.
What you wrote:
Negative Influences:
i) Glamorizing Toxicity & Hyper-masculinity under the guise of 'Heroism'.
E.g., Animal, Kabir Singh, etc for abusive romantic relationship, excessive violence, etc. which young audience sometimes emulate
ii) Promoting escapism & Materialism, as high-budget cinema fosters extravagance, unrealistic lifestyle, body images wealth, etc
E.g. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham - Opulent lifestyle
Student of the year, where college is depicted as lavish, swapping education for high-stake tournaments, dance competitions, etc
iii) Reinforcing stereotypes, cinema has relied on caricature tropes for minority communities, regional identity and marginalized groups.
E.g., LGBTQ+ individuals used as comic relief, body shaming normalised as fun, religious minorities stereotyped into narrow, predictable roles, promotion of fairness in movies and shaming of dark-skinned actors as fun.
eg. In movies 'Tum Milo Toh Sahi', Nana Patekar to a transgender "Main bhi naacha, meecho de",
The scene is a meme, which is now shared online for quick laughs, further reinforcing the stereotype.
Negative Influences:
i) Glamorizing Toxicity & Hyper-masculinity under the guise of 'Heroism'.
E.g., Animal, Kabir Singh, etc for abusive romantic relationship, excessive violence, etc. which young audience sometimes emulate
ii) Promoting escapism & Materialism, as high-budget cinema fosters extravagance, unrealistic lifestyle, body images wealth, etc
E.g. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham - Opulent lifestyle
Student of the year, where college is depicted as lavish, swapping education for high-stake tournaments, dance competitions, etc
iii) Reinforcing stereotypes, cinema has relied on caricature tropes for minority communities, regional identity and marginalized groups.
E.g., LGBTQ+ individuals used as comic relief, body shaming normalised as fun, religious minorities stereotyped into narrow, predictable roles, promotion of fairness in movies and shaming of dark-skinned actors as fun.
eg. In movies 'Tum Milo Toh Sahi', Nana Patekar to a transgender "Main bhi naacha, meecho de",
The scene is a meme, which is now shared online for quick laughs, further reinforcing the stereotype.
Suggestions to improve:
- Can explain how idealised wealth and appearance create status pressure or unrealistic expectations among viewers.
- Could shorten the quoted scene and focus on how repeated ridicule can make prejudice seem socially acceptable.
- Can distinguish between depicting harmful behaviour and presenting it as admirable, especially in the discussion of abusive relationships.
What you wrote:
Cinema, is hence, a double-edged sword, with undeniable power to spark debates on social issues, dismantle prejudices and uniting the society, it equally risks toxic traits, amplify biases, etc and here filmmakers must wisely what to depict and portray through cinema.
Cinema, is hence, a double-edged sword, with undeniable power to spark debates on social issues, dismantle prejudices and uniting the society, it equally risks toxic traits, amplify biases, etc and here filmmakers must wisely what to depict and portray through cinema.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could complete the final sentence and keep the closing shorter.
- Can widen responsibility to include viewers’ critical understanding of films, linking responsible cinema with dignity, equality and social harmony.
Your answer addresses all three demands with varied film examples and a balanced approach. Strengthen the links between screen portrayals and social consequences, while trimming lengthy illustrations.
Demand of the Question
- How cinema positively shapes values and attitudes in Indian society
- How cinema negatively influences and harms India's social fabric
- Suitable examples showing both positive and negative impacts of cinema
What you wrote:
In the words of Satyajit Ray, "Cinema is like a mirror which reflects the society alongwith its scars", it has reflected the existing realities which actively shapes public values, attitudes and behaviours.
In the words of Satyajit Ray, "Cinema is like a mirror which reflects the society alongwith its scars", it has reflected the existing realities which actively shapes public values, attitudes and behaviours.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could separate cinema’s role in reflecting society from its role in changing people’s attitudes.
- Can briefly signal both beneficial and harmful influences to introduce the balanced discussion.
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