Sunday, October 9 2005 14:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The zeal of political parties in Tamil Nadu to act as the moral police on the plea of preserving 'public order and Tamil culture' might snowball as a standoff with the celluloid world.

South Indian film star of yesteryears Kushboo's remarks that pre-marital sex among the young Tamil girls should not be questioned by those marrying them had led to a hue and cry among the women of the state, most of them from Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Dalit Panthers of India who filed over 30 criminal cases against the actress.

Though the leaders of these parties denied being behind the protests, women, carrying broomsticks in one hand and party flags on the other, agitated in several parts of the state, demanding public apology from the actress.

Will the actress, the mother of two daughters, allow them to indulge in pre-marital sex? they asked.

PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss and Tol Thirumavalavan, DPI leader, who had been advocating sex education in schools and colleges, alleged that Kushboo was attempting to impose an 'alien' culture on the people of the state. They also came down heavily on the media, particularly the films, for 'corrupting' the youth of the state.

The parties apprehend erosion of values and culture due to changes in lifestyles by youth in Tamil Nadu in large numbers.

Not only the political parties, even the South Indian Artists Association had taken up moral policing when it vehemently protested a remark of producer Thancker Pachan, who had been quoted in an interview that the artistes who looked for money alone should be treated as sex workers.

The actresses, led by Manorama and Kushboo, demanded that the producer should tender a public apology in front of the members of the Association. Initially reluctant, Pachan finally went to the association premises and tendered an unqualified apology for his remarks.

The PMK had taken up to moral policing when it preached the youth against joining film stars' fan clubs, on the plea that their energies were diverted from productive purposes.

The party had more than two years back organised protests against superstar Rajnikant starrer film 'Baba' on the plea that youth took up to smoking following the actor's footsteps.

Rajnikant had decided not to act in any role portraying himself as smoker after that film.

PMK women's wing also organised protests in front of liquor shops in rural areas saying alcohol had destroyed the rural economy. The rural men folk resorted to drinking putting the womenfolk into deep trouble, they contended.

According to Ramadoss, "Is it fair on the part of media to blame us of moral policing, when we preach good things for the youth?"

Besides these parties, some NGOs and women's associations had taken up grudge against a film NEW', which they alleged, had denigrated women. Some of them went to courts seeking a stay on screening of the movie. The film revolved around a character of a youth who becomes a child during night and man during the day.

Some educational institutions also resorted to moral policing in the guise of implementing a dress code prescribed for affiliating colleges of the Anna University here.

A fortnight back, the dean of a private engineering college, detained a student for coming to the college with T-Shirt, against the prescribed code.

Anna University, in a bid to bring in 'discipline', had introduced a dress code from September One which had banned wearing Jeans, T Shirts by the students.

The police on its part had suspended license of a three-star hotel in the city permitting a late night party in which couples were allowed to kiss in open. However, the license was renewed with strict conditions.

The police had banned bars in the hotels after midnight and functions with obscene contents.