Kerala CM Pinarayi criticises Aavesham-style gang culture, calls for censorship

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday, March 3, raised concerns over the impact of violent films on children, urging the censor board to scrutinise such content. He made these remarks in the Kerala Assembly while responding to the recent death of a Class 10 student in Kozhikode district. Mohammed Shahabas (16) was killed in a gang fight, sparking concerns among the public over the increase of such incidents. 

Replying to a motion moved by senior Congress legislator and former Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala, the Chief Minister termed the issue a "serious social concern." He pointed out that films and video games that normalise violence could be influencing children negatively.

"There have been reports of children associating with rowdy gangs, similar to how students in a film (Fahadh Faasil starrer ‘Aavesham’) joined a gang that used the phrase 'Eda Mone'. Such trends are concerning and need to be examined," Pinarayi Vijayan said. He emphasised that it was the responsibility of the censor board to regulate the depiction of violence in films.

The Chief Minister also spoke at length about the changing parenting styles and their impact on children. Recalling his own childhood, he said he had owned only two shirts as a student, contrasting it with today's generation, which he said views education merely as a means to achieve material success. He urged parents to foster not just knowledge but also compassion in their children.

Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the growing trend of sending children to professional coaching institutes at a young age, arguing that it deprived them of their childhood and early exposure to democratic values. He also highlighted how modern lifestyles have led to a communication gap within families. "In some families, there is hardly any time for members to talk to each other. Individual privacy has become the priority, leading to a sense of isolation among children," he said.

Warning about the risks of digital addiction, the Kerala CM noted that children increasingly retreat into digital spaces as parents become engrossed in their own lives. "When parents try to intervene, children may see them as adversaries. Digital addiction is a major issue today, and we must address it before it worsens," he cautioned.

The Chief Minister also called for politically and socially aware campuses to prevent anarchic tendencies. "Only when campuses foster political literacy and social consciousness can we eliminate disorderly behavior. The government will initiate a collective campaign involving all sections of society to tackle these challenges," he announced.