Peter,
You had been searching for me
While I was waiting for you
An iconic moment in Indian Cinema
A megastar is born
Twiddling beedis in his mouth
Would the scene linger in your mind?
Had our hero been of a gentler kind
On onscreen smoking
Controversy raged
Ministers play moral police
Cry hoarse
Blow out that smoke
Ignoring small-time vendors that would go broke.
Statutory warning is plastered
Passive smokers fall prey
Active smokers fall prey
To the debilitating addiction
Kicking is difficult
Keeping is injurious…