Malayalis are in shock over the increasing number of crimes committed by the younger generation, with the latest victim being a class 10 boy named Shahbaz from Kozhikode, who was brutally beaten to death by children of his own age. Violence continues unabated, as every day, reports of more and more violent incidents in the state emerge.

Meanwhile, there is an ongoing debate, with some suggesting that the portrayal of violence in films may be contributing to such behaviour. In this context, remarks made earlier by actor Navya Nair have gone viral, as they resonate strongly with the current situation.

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Navya Nair, speaking at a public event, warned about the powerful mental influence films can have on children. “The industry I belong to is cinema. Despite violence being depicted in earlier films like Kireedam and Chenkol, those acts weren’t glorified, as the protagonists repented for their actions towards the end of those films. It was usually a stab or a punch that we saw as the maximum violence in our movies back then. But today, it's all about guns and multiple shots, sometimes even shooting the dead person again. We see these actions on screen, and they evoke strong and distressing emotions within us,” she said.

Navya emphasized that the film industry has a significant impact on the mental development of young minds. She recalled a time when she enjoyed watching light-hearted films, ranging from Nadodikkattu to Two Countries, but remarked that the scene has since changed, now dominated by violent crime and inappropriate language

“Today, a dialogue about drugs or crime in a movie gets huge applause from the audience. In the past, when we saw someone addicted to drugs, we would look at them with disdain, but now we cheerfully refer to them as 'good trips'. This has changed gradually over the last few years. It’s not an overnight shift," she observed. She added that violence and inappropriate behaviour in films, from stabbings to shootings, is often glorified, even in other language films.

"Navya raised a concern about the repercussions of such violent portrayals, saying, 'The aftermath of this kind of glorified violence is evident in the tragic loss of many young lives on the campuses of our state. As a mother, I say this: We need to teach self-care and the importance of making wise choices. Drugs, violence, and addiction are causing real harm to our youth. At times, peer pressure and indulgence lead them down dangerous paths.'

The seasoned actor lamented a generation that is either weighed down by drugs or caught in destructive habits, unable to fly freely. 'What’s the point of this if we are losing our youth to this cycle?' she asked.

Navya concluded with a heartfelt message to the youth of Kerala, urging them to use reason and avoid falling into the trap of easy entertainment and substance abuse. 'The future of Kerala is in your hands. The world ahead belongs to you. Don’t let yourselves be reduced to mere puppets.'"

The gory violence in the state involving youngsters over the last few months continues uncontrollably, as officials and parents grapple to contain the situation, searching for solutions and debating whether it's a systemic failure and larger issues that need to be addressed, leading to further scrutiny. (With inputs from Agencies)