DGP Anjani Kumar urges film makers to highlight police sacrifices in impactful movies

HYDERABAD: More than 5,000 police officers were infected and more than 200 lives were lost during the first two waves of COVID-19, according to Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar, who appealed to film directors and producers on Monday to shed light on the everyday sacrifices made by police families.

While addressing at a seminar on 'Cinema as a Catalyst for Change,' Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar urged directors, producers, and senior actors in the Telugu film industry to make effective movies that conveyed uplifting messages to the audience.

He said that cinema was without a doubt a catalyst for change, and that young producers, directors, and actors could do a lot for society by bringing more significant movies to the screen.

Anjani Kumar urged Telugu film industry producers and directors to consider taking risks to create socially impactful movies. He also urged film makers to project police in a positive light, acknowledging their hard work and sacrifices.

"I appeal to all of you, as a police officer, to project police in a positive light, since society may be unaware of the amount of hard work and sacrifice that each police family makes each week. When the entire city was dealing with the first and second waves of COVID, the city police worked around the clock to secure the safety of the citizens. More than 5,000 cops were infected, and more than 200 lives were lost, and sacrifice made the police families should be recognised by the society. This is my appeal to each of you," he said.

Anjani Kumar recalled watching the film Hare Rama Hare Krishna with his family. "I was extremely unhappy with the character of Zeenath Aman, which indicates that the director's objective was likely accomplished, producing agitation among myself as well as others against drug abuse, " he added.

The movie 'Kati Patang', effectively depicted the challenges of widow marriage during that period, serving the purpose of the movie and shared an important message, he said.

"The director effectively portrays the good soul within everyone, even within a sex worker, in movies like 'Kuch Too Log Kahenge' and 'Amar Prem', resulting in strong emotional reactions and a powerful message," Anjani Kumar said while sharing another example of an impactful movie.

'Sholay', a blockbuster movie, failed to catalyse social change and glorified a dacoit, violance, which in fact became a household name, Gabbar Singh, unlike many super hits that failed to catalyse change, he added.

Anjani Kumar emphasised the necessity of taking risks in the Indian Cinema industry, given its resources and talent to deliver effective messages to bring about social change, by citing numerous positive movies examples in the film industry.