An erotic comedy series on ALTBalaji, an OTT platform in India, recently invited the ire of the Indian Defence Ministry. The ministry objects to certain scenes in "XXX" and expressed its concern in letters to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The Defence Ministry contends that that the Indian Army uniform is disrespected and depicted in a negative light that hurts those personnel currently serving and veterans. In one particularly contentious scene , the adulterous wife of an army officer has her boyfriend wear her husband's uniform and, while indulging in BDSM, rips his uniform apart.
The Ministry wrote to the Central Board of Film Certification requesting it to direct producers of web series to seek permission from the ministry before airing films depicting the Indian Army or military personnel. Considering online content's regulatory gray area, the letter was also sent to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
It is significant to note that the CBFC, which functions under the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, is not authorized to regulate content on video-streaming platforms. Its role is restricted to films released in theatres and on television satellite channels. In India, content on OTT platforms is not monitored by any specific body. The platforms are still in the process of finalising a self-regulatory code for the content they stream.
This is the latest episode of governmental interference related to media content. In a similar incident , the Indian Air Force (IAF) wrote to the Central Board of Film Certification complaining against its 'undue negative portrayal' in the movie "Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl" released on Netflix Aug. 12. The film is based on the first Indian Air Force woman pilot who was part of the 1999 Kargil conflict between Pakistan and India.
The letter read "In the aim to glorify the screen character of 'Ex-Fit Lt Gunjan Saxena,' the producers present misleading situations and portray an inappropriate work culture, especially against women in the IAF." The letter also speaks of presentation of incorrect gender bias.
Established in 1952, the bureaucratic film certification system in India is a challenging maze which filmmakers must negotiate. In India, the concept of film certification is often synonymous with censorship, primarily because a large majority of films are pruned by the state to make them 'fit for certification.' Critics, commentators, and filmmakers are largely unanimous in expressing their opinions about the system being a social and a judicial construct, and the biggest impediment to creative expression in Indian cinema.
Restrictions on how the armed forces are depicted already exist. A three-stage approval process requires producers to first approach the defence forces before filming begins, and then get an approval through the censor board and the defence ministry for a final release agreement. The current diktat (an order or decree imposed by someone in power without popular consent) declares the Defence Ministry bring web series under that same approval process. Since this is tied to the larger question of how regulations over Indian OTT content evolve, it is likely to remain unresolved in the present. However, there is a growing list of organizations including the Ministry of Defence seeking greater control over web content in India.
