Movies are true reflection of the society and its norms. Showing public affection in India was rare. One could never see couples holding hands or kissing in the streets. Thus, Indian movies also almost never had smooching scenes. Whenever the actor and the actress begin to hug and kiss, the camera would instead show two birds kissing. Growing up watching these movies, I always believed that you need two birds in the room to kiss a girl.
There are different limits of decency in various cultures. On one extreme, it is taboo in some Middle Eastern countries for women to reveal any body parts and showing any kind of public affection is out of the question; while couples in the U.S. can get away with almost anything during Mardi Gras and Spring Break. India with its different cultures and classes has different limits, but if one is forced to label it, it will be more towards the conservative side.
Growing up in that atmosphere and graduating from "Trichy", I was ready for anything but what was about to hit me in America.
Within the first few months I met a Chinese girl, who became my gf. (In five years we are now engaged and getting married this Fall.) During that time it was natural for her to walk with me hand in hand all around the campus. I was more than OK with that but as soon as I saw my Indian friends or seniors I would cringe. She never understood my behavior and it has become a butt of many jokes. I am over that but even now I sometimes look for two birds.
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