OTT under I&B radar- A step to save the fabric of Bhartiya society!

The arrival of streaming platforms in recent years has led to netizens enjoying web series and films across languages, countries and genres. Many of these ventures have enjoyed tremendous fan following, with dialogues going viral and memes surfacing too. As far as Indian web series is concerned, it perhaps wouldn’t be wrong to say that ones involving action have been more popular. But is this action worth watching?

 

Whatever kind of entertainment you like or follow, it has to have an infulence on audience's thinking and overall growth. So are the changes we see today in the society. Earlier the only source of entertainment were books which engaged the reader for a month of two eaisily. Then came movies- three to four hours, TV serials- years and years and now the Web series- one or two days. So it won't be an exaggeration to say that people today want news kinda entertainment every day. Along with the negative inclinaion towards being intellectual, isn't this a sign of people giving up over testing their patience level?

 

Following the increasing controversies over the content on the over-the-top (OTT) platforms, Information and Broadcasting ministry too proposed bringing under its purview the contents being streamed on the various OTT platforms. “OTT being a digital platform will fall under the purview of the Ministry of IT but now we are proposing a decision that the content should fall within the purview of I&B ministry,” said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare. Khare discussed the lack of regulation in the OTT platforms and noted that all other forms of creative media namely movies, radio and print media are regulated but the OTT platforms aren't.

 

"There is a need for convergence of various ministries, particularly in the ways changes are happening, is extremely necessary". He also noted that the government believes in less but important regulations and the four platforms must be under som body to address certain issues if anything arises. Out of the five different media print, radio, TV, films and OTT four of them have certain kinds of regulatory practices such as the Press Council of India for the print media and the Central Board of Film Certification certification for films, but one of them is unregulated", he said. He added that currently a film released on OTT is not covered under the Central Board of Film Certification as it not exhibited as a film there. There has to be a level playing field for all, including OTT platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar, which do not come under any regulatory purview as of now he said.

 

“Different regulatory structures must be brought in sync to ensure less regulation,” he said. Days after internet has become cheap at costs and especially after the closure of cinema hall during the crisis of Covid 19, the demand for the web series has increased tremendously. These web series based mostly on criminal subjects are becoming especially popular among youth and women. In view of their growing trade and in the name of realistic artistry, these web series often feature scenes of openly hateful violence, sexuality and nudity, and dialogues abound. And to prove the inevitability of all this, many types of petty arguments are also given. The situation does anything but makes us wonder why are all the hyped Indian web series so dark and violent?

 

With regulation put now, the user editors won't be able to misuse the unlimited freedom to take internet mediums to the extent of anarchy. Yes, it is apt to stand by the freedom of expression debate but only as far as human sensibilities, traditional values and national identity are not hampered. We all need to strongly condemn the chaotic freedom that is flourishing under the guise of freedom of expression and expects art, literature, culture and followers of Bhart and Bhartiyata to boycott such free, vulgar works and acts. This step by the government to set up an immediate system to enact stringent laws to curb such kind of creations or productions, will also help set the fabric of Bhartiya society and the nation as a whole!