Tobacco imagery in Bollywood films: 2006-2008.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate exposure to tobacco imagery in youth-rated Bollywood films, and examine the results in light of recent developments in India's film rating system.


METHODS
Content coding of 44 top grossing Bollywood films (including 38 youth-rated films) released during 2006-2008 was undertaken to estimate tobacco occurrences and impressions.


RESULTS
Out of the 38 youth-rated (U and U/A) films coded, 50% contained tobacco imagery. Mean tobacco occurrences were 1.9, 2.9 and 13.7 per U, U/A and adult (A) rated films, respectively. Top grossing youth-rated films delivered 1.91 billion tobacco impressions to Indian cinema audiences.


CONCLUSIONS
Half the youth-rated Bollywood films contain tobacco imagery resulting in large population level exposure in India, relative to other countries. Measures to reduce youth exposure to tobacco imagery through films, such as restricting access through the rating system, will complement other tobacco control measures.
Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth (HRIDAY) , New Delhi , India.
Gaurang P
GP
Nazar
Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) , New Delhi , India.
Vinay K
VK
Gupta
School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; South Asia Network for Chronic Disease, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), New Delhi, India.
Christopher
C
Millett
Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth (HRIDAY), New Delhi, India; Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), New Delhi, India.
Monika
M
Arora