The Government’s guidelines regulating OTT platforms and social media raise a few questions
The first-phase lockdown of last year’s pandemic outbreak spawned newfound attention and increased popularity for a number of web series as cinema halls had been ordered shut and people were forced to remain closeted inside their residences. Several big-budget and multi-starrer movies, which had been slated for theatrical release in the last week of March 2020 and beyond, fell to the Government’s social distancing order and, to make up for the imminent financial losses in light of the prevailing uncertain conditions, chose the new fad of releasing the films online. As days gave way to weeks and months wore on, the average Indian family — already reeling under fear psychosis and bored to death by now — rediscovered the panacea of entertainment in various web series streaming on Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. So far, so good. Mirzapur aired, made a splash, but there was no hue and cry. Along came Saif Ali Khan-starrer Tandav, focusing on how politics affects collegial environment, and all hell broke loose. Everybody seems to have conveniently forgotten Haasil (released in 2003, starring Jimmy Sheirgill, Irrfan Khan and Ashutosh Rana, directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia) which was a gripping narrative based on the same subject. As avid watchers of the series among the OTT viewers point out, the ostensible objection — “hurting religious sentiments” by taking umbrage to the Shiva scene in the first episode — was just a ruse to express anger against the way the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, and the National Register of Citizens issues had been projected in the series.
The “religious sentiments” angle, coupled with allegations of the earlier series brimming with sexually explicit scenes and foul language, brought the spotlight back on Mirzapur, too, though there had been no protests during its run earlier. The tepid response of Twitter officials to the Centre’s recent earnest entreaty to suspend the handles of certain “rumour-mongering members” during the ongoing farmers’ agitation, especially in the wake of the January 26 violence at Red Fort, seems to have added fuel to the authorities’ displeasure and, therefore, today we find both the OTT platforms and social media facing a barrage of directives. The question now arises: Are the Government guidelines regulating the two media correct, or could it lead to pressure or censorship on them? Experts opine that the 29 pages of rules raise concerns over several factors, including the privacy of users and censorship of digital news media, which will ultimately affect citizens’ rights. It seems the Government just does not like us to have fun and make personal choices. It had better heed common sense and allow its adult population, those who are eligible to vote and can take learned decisions in all other spheres of life, to decide for itself whether it wants to watch a particular show or series. Of course, cracking down on the creators and propagators of fake news is a different ball game altogether.
