Crimes are inspired by movies, but so can other, positive things, as well

Any remaining doubt about the need to have a Hindi movie featuring whatever needs widespread emulation in India has surely been dispelled by the daring bank robbery in Sonepat, Haryana, this week for which the thieves dug a 40-m tunnel into a strongroom, and then emptied 85 lockers. Bollywood's scriptwriters should definitely be the next target of government managers as the catalyst for speedy and effective dissemination of crucial programmes given that the heist has been deemed to be yet another ripple effect of the blockbuster multi-movie franchise Dhoom. From bank robbers in Kerala in 2008 to motorcycle-pinching juveniles in Delhi in 2013, the franchise's ability to motivate youth to copy their favourite film stars — albeit in none-too-savoury activities — cannot be ignored.

But the government must resist the urge to accede to any demands for a blanket ban on storylines glorifying or glamorising criminal activities or insisting on ticker warnings during the relevant scenes about its dire consequences. With so many films on bank robbery themes already available, such proscriptions would be useless. Instead, the challenge would be for the government and scriptwriters to weave in and jazz up current key official themes in a way that will thrill both the authorities and audiences.