Cinematic Shifts: Indian Films and the Changing Cultural Identity of the Youth
Abstract: Indian films portray changing lifestyles, relationships and cultural expectations. This study examined how adults aged 45?55 years in Southern India perceive Western cultural representation in contemporary Indian cinema and its influence on younger generations. A descriptive and exploratory survey collected questionnaire responses from 200 purposively selected adults. Frequencies and percentages summarized structured responses, while open-ended answers were grouped by theme. All respondents noticed changes in film themes over the preceding 10?20 years; all agreed or strongly agreed that contemporary cinema shows more Western cultural elements and influences younger generations in areas including fashion, speech and dating. For the statement that younger generations adopt portrayed behaviors, 94.5% agreed or strongly agreed. By contrast, only 1.5% agreed or strongly agreed that their own perspective or lifestyle had been influenced by Indian films, while 94.5% were neutral about the influence of films on their own lifestyles. All respondents believed cinema has a responsibility to preserve traditional values, and 92.5% described its contribution to cultural change as neutral or mixed. These findings describe respondents? perceptions rather than measured changes in young people?s behavior or causal effects of cinema.
Keywords: Indian cinema; Cultural identity; Western cultural influence; Youth cultural practices; Perceived media influence
How to Cite?: Roopa Gowda P, "Cinematic Shifts: Indian Films and the Changing Cultural Identity of the Youth", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1729-1730, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261025123309, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261025123309