How The New Censorship Act Can Affect Your Favorite Binge-watch

Netflix original miniseries, A Suitable Boy, based on the award winning novel of the same name penned by Vikram Seth, was recently called out by several politicians for depiciting a Hindi girl kissing a Muslim boy in a temple. This scene has said too hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community, while #BoycottNetflix trended on Twitter for some while where netizens urged youngsters to get rid off Netflix.

OTT platforms were under the Information & Broadcasting department till now but on Novemeber 11, the goverment declared all online content- digital platforms including news, audio, visual and entertainment content is going to be controlled by the I & B ministry that is the Information & Broadcasting department. This is said to be for the benefit of contenr regulation so that the youth wont be under the influence of unhealthy broadcasting, but many liberals are questioning whether India is heading into a censhorship rule.

This law probably means that any OTT content that seems to have any sequence that can hurt the sentiments of a religious community will be taken down. Not just the scene, but the entire web series or content. Considering the Indian society's sensitivity to many themes such as LGBTQ+ relationships, intimate scenes or interfaith marriages- themes that are largely explored especially in foreign film industries, it seems that we might not be able to have any quality entertainment time with the censorship act in play.

Many filmmakers, actors, directors, etc. have expressed dissappointment on this act. The OTT platform has strived to provide us quality content that even compelled Hindi Cinema to step up it's game. The number one entertainment source for millenials and Gen Z especially, censorship over platforms like Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon Prime, etc cuts of access to some phenomenal works of art. Director Alankrita Srivastava, filmmaker Hansal Mehta, digital rights activist Nikhil Pahwa have disagreed with this step. However, Karan Bedi (MX Player CEO) has welcomed this move and has even said he looks forward to this act. One way or the other, the censorship act will surely bring some enormous changes in the entertainment industry.

Do you think OTT platforms' content is highly provocative for the youth? Should it be regulated, along with the news reported? Or do you feel like this goes against one's basic human rights? Let us know in the comments.