When the OTT streaming platforms got here to India, the controversies adopted. Because, what adopted was an unabashed abuse and misuse of the medium within the identify of artistic liberty! The most important themes of many OTT streaming serials have been gore, violence, intercourse. The standard Hindi belt “Bahubali” movies, which used to fail by the dozen at the field workplace, have been rehashed with stress on intercourse and violence.
Were the makers affected by deprivation or did they suppose the viewer was? Every subsequent such serial went on to outdo the earlier one in depicting all that was undesirable. Did these makers have a target market in thoughts? Far from it, because the content material was meant for a household viewers to be seen inside the 4 partitions of a residence!
Streaming platforms could have enterprise pursuits all around the world, however no nation gives such a enormous chunk of client base as India does. As issues stand right now, Indians are extra delicate to sure type of content material. Especially, anti-national or anti-religious content material that provokes the lots to react immediately. Also, India is a nation with myriad methods of life, sentiments and beliefs.
In an occasion when a movie, TV serial or steaming platform content material goes towards their sentiments or perception, reactions can rise from any nook of India. Court petitions are a norm. The regulation says that when a movie is handed by the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification), a courtroom of regulation can’t be moved towards it. However, this has not deterred individuals from getting a movie entangled in a authorized case. Despite the express regulation to the opposite, the courts pay heed to such circumstances, in any other case what follows is violence.
When individuals of a part or a area or a faith take exception to some content material, the regulation offers authority to the native district collector to cease the unfold of such content material. A DM’s intervention is feasible when it comes to movies, however with OTT streaming it’s out of attain for nearly all authorities.
When the Aamir Khan movie “PK” launched, there was a lot hue and cry, and violence was feared. The movie, individuals felt, made enjoyable of the Hindu gods. But, to reveal tolerance and freedom of expression within the democratic arrange, the federal government supplied police safety to cinema halls screening the movie. The very individuals who have been objecting to the content material, flocked the cinema halls to watch it, making the movie a blockbuster! That was in 2014. The tolerance stage shouldn’t be the identical anymore.
The first OTT movie to draw the ire of the general public in addition to Indian Air Force personnel was “Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl”. The content material was mentioned to be based mostly on lies, it was mentioned to have twisted information and was derogatory to the Air Force. The controversy didn’t transcend TV debates, nor did it assist the movie generate any extra viewers as some controversies do.
The latest and extra severe case was that of “Tandav”, which launched on Amazon Prime on January 15 this yr. “Tandav” makers have been accused of portraying Hindu gods in addition to the Prime Minister of India in a unhealthy gentle. Not solely was a police FIR filed however the matter was additionally taken up at the ministerial stage. The Amazon workforce was requested for a proof by the I&B ministry. Apologies have been sought and duly supplied. The scenes hurting the emotions of individuals have been eliminated.
This should have been fairly embarrassing for Amazon, a firm that does enterprise all around the world. The incident additionally made the Government answerable for permitting the OTT platforms an unregulated, free run.
This lastly led I&B Ministry to introduce some checks on the OTT medium. The ministry has proposed to take over the management of OTT platforms from the Ministry Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The platforms got a timeline by which they have been requested to arrange a self-regulating physique in addition to a code of conduct.
This appears to have led to a change within the movie content-buying coverage of OTT platforms. After all, these platforms, reeling out content material on a common foundation, can’t afford to have a authorities appointed CBFC type of physique to verify their content material. That would lead to a lot of purple tape and delays main to uncertainties.
Hence, what seems to be like a security valve, the OTT platforms have determined that the movies they purchase are first censored and in addition launched theatrically. Unlike earlier, solely censored movies shall be aired on OTT. If points and objections are raised, they’ll occur earlier than the OTT launch. The latest movie, “Mumbai Saga”, went by way of a theatrical launch first and can now premiere on OTT, most likely on April 13, on Gudi Padwa, which is the Marathi New Year’s day.
The movies launched on OTT to this point have neither introduced them glory nor, possibly, returns price their whereas. That would even be a purpose why these platforms have to embark on backing their very own movie tasks with face worth and themes that work. Besides, with the closure of cinema retailers for over a yr in addition to slowdown within the manufacturing sector, streaming platforms will ultimately run out of provide. Getting into manufacturing will guarantee a common circulate.
The theatrical launch of a movie has its worth and benefit. The Indian considering is such that solely a movie launched at cinemas is actually a movie made for lots and price spending time and cash on. It offers a movie the popularity as a function movie. The undeniable fact that a movie launched at cinemas creates consciousness is a bonus.
This actuality about movies was proved lengthy again when the video format got here to India. A lot of aspiring makers took to making movies solely for the video format. Some reviews advised that the variety of such movies made stood at over 500. Whatever the quantity, these movies have been simply not acceptable to the viewers. The few that launched on video discovered no takers. They have been made at reasonable budgets of Rs 3 to 5 lakh, or tenth of a function movie price in these days, nevertheless it was all funding down the drain.
Meanwhile, Neflix, which has acquired the OTT rights of “Sooryavanshi”, appears to have waited lengthy sufficient for the movie to hit the screens in order to observe it up with an OTT launch. However, the movie launch has been postponed many occasions and, because the Covid-19 state of affairs stands right now, it’s getting worse by the day, and the concern of one other lockdown of cinema stares within the face.
Netflix is reported to have set the OTT launch of Sooryavanshi for May 28 however its theatre launch. The makers could, nonetheless, plan a theatre launch of the movie throughout this era. For, Sooryavanshi is a star-studded movie using the identify of director Rohit Shetty, and it might have raked in a huge opening determine beneath regular circumstances.
