Netflix released the popular historical drama series “Vikings” in India in May 2020. However, to viewer’s shock it was a censored version. The show, released uncensored in US and Italy, comes with several cuts and blurs as reported by users. The scenes censored depict nudity, violence and even meat!
Scenes containing nudity are completely blurred and some violent scenes are cut. The scenes of meat involve two pieces of cooked pork-which Muslims find offensive. Ironically the scenes remained uncensored on Netflix in UAE a predominantly Muslim nation with strict rules against pork. In context, internationally on Netflix, Viking season 5, episode 12 is around 46 minutes long but in India, it’s around 42 and half minutes .
This is not the first time that Netflix released a sanitized show in India. Before this, the online streaming platform broadcast a censored version of the film “Angry Indian Goddesses” despite releasing uncut versions in other countries. Later, Netflix released the original version after receiving user complaints.
Considering that several series and films containing violent and sexual content are already available to Indian audiences on OTT platforms, censoring scenes containing pig meat, for instance, appear ironical to viewers. Netflix is known to make bold statements with its content, especially with shows like “Sacred Games” that were criticised for being Hindu-phobic .
Several users commented on Twitter that they will cancel their Netflix subscriptions if it continues censoring shows for India. Users are enraged that the platform is giving in to restrictive pressures.
In response, Netflix tweeted “Netflix remains sensitive to the preferences, needs and local regulatory requirements in the markets where we operate. We comply if we receive written legal demand by the local governing authority.”
Further investigation reveals Netflix is streaming the show that initially premiered on History TV18 in India. History TV18 is a joint venture between the A+E Networks-owner of History Channel-U.S. broadcaster of Vikings and Reliance Industries. The channel blurred out the images of two cooked pigs in the episode titled “Murder Most Foul,” the sixth in the Nordic drama series. Netflix is airing the Indian TV-approved version of Vikings because it’s the only one with Hindi-language subtitles and voice dub which helps Netflix to create a wider regional and local reach for the show.
Netflix’s censorship in India is otherwise more subtle. Based on a report in Medianama , Netflix lawyers urged Hasan Minhaj to not show a map of Jammu and Kashmir on his show “Patriot Act,” asserting that they’d be sued if he did so. Minhaj complied to the request. In another instance, it backed out of buying a film called “Sexy Durga,” presumably to steer clear of backlash and criticism from Hindu viewers.
India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry is mulling censorship regulations for at least a year. The industry remains divided over implementation of censorship on OTT platforms. According to Krish Arvapally, co-founder, President and CTO of UNREEL Entertainment, “Such a move could creatively limit content creators, economically hobble young media businesses, and in a socio-political sense, it could set troubling precedents on what can and cannot be shown or communicated to the general public.”
Regardless of the government’s decision, it appears that OTT platforms such as Netflix are increasingly taking initiative to adopt self-censorship in India based on their assessment of offending cultural content.
