Police in the state are in no mood to take action against films which have smoking scenes. Till now just one case has been registered.

The Rules of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 were amended to empower the police to book violators.

The only case registered in the state so far was based on the health ministry guidelines to curb the practice in 2005. The case against the 2010 Malayalam film Apoorvaragam, is still in the High Court. Many public interest litigations against onscreen smoking are also pending.

“The police must take serious action against this practice. The lack of co-ordination among the health ministry, censor board and police department adversely affects the effective implementation of the rule.

The public too are unaware of the law,” said the Kerala Voluntary Health Services executive director, Mr Saju Itty.

Officials also admit that the police has been slow in cracking down on the movies, which breach the rule. The ambiguity and lack of clarity in the rules are reasons for films going unchecked.

“Both the law-enforcing authorities and film-makers are unsure of the rules for such scenes. It went unchecked all these years as the police took a soft stand. We are now planning to come across strongly,” said the narcotics cell assistant commissioner of police Joseph Saju.

The film fraternity is fuming. Every artiste Deccan Chronicle contacted, blasted the onscreen smoking norms and termed them ‘foolish and unrealistic’.

“It is stupid to ban smoking scenes to curb the use of tobacco products. It is wrong to make rules under the notion that characters influence the audience,” said director Ashiq Abu.