It seems, reasonably, that the outrage was waiting to happen. The growth of Over-the-top (OTT) media service platforms that distribute streaming video over the Internet has been tremendous in the last eight years in India; in 2018, its market value was over INR 21.5 billion, which grew to INR 35 billion in 2019 and is now around INR 40 billion. The market value is expected to grow at an exponential rate of 45% to reach around INR 138 billion in 2023 and more than INR 158 billion in 2024. Currently, the platforms enjoy an audience of more than 1.7 billion subscribers, which is likely to rise to a whopping 5 billion this year, making it the second largest OTT market after the US. Except for Reliance Entertainment’s 2008 launch of BIGFlix, the largest of the 40 OTT platforms like SonyLIV, Disney-Hotstar, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Voot, JioCinema and Zee5 started operating in India during 2013-18.

Initially, OTT platforms streamed released feature films, documentaries, short films, and the like, but over time they have launched into their own video productions of feature films, shorts, and more importantly, the web series, and then stream them to their subscribers. who can enjoy on their smartphones, laptops and desktops. Here’s the catch: Regulatory bodies have been established for print and electronic media; for advertisements; and for visual media, including feature films, documentaries, and any other theatrical releases; however, for OTT platforms, called Digital Media that includes social networks and all other online expressions, there were no regulatory bodies, and this gave them a clear advantage over others.

After watching the streamed videos, particularly the web series with up to 9-10 episodes, one feels, again reasonably, that what the filmmakers cannot afford to do in uncertified film productions, they can do in the most self-indulgent ways in the OTT productions. This means: they can allow their actors to utter all the nonsense slang/abuse galore, they can show explicit sex scenes with graphic indulgence, and they can also have unmeasured violence, with all the gory details. This huge advantage was sure to raise concerns and alert hardline vigilantes sooner or later.

While the other forms of media, despite being regulated, have faced attacks from hardliners and fringe elements, web series productions, despite displaying much bolder content, continued to enjoy some kind of immunity, except for the occasional PIL. This scenario is perhaps explained by the fact that OTT platforms cater mainly to urban users who have the required facilities and viewing is mainly personal with connected headsets. Thanks to Digital India’s connectivity campaign, the rise of Jio mobile phone and internet services and the subsequent fall in mobile phone and internet charges everywhere, the doors of subscribers were also opened to the huge mobile phone sector. rural India.

Naturally, then, the Government of India started thinking about bringing the hugely growing digital media as a whole under its regulation. The OTT management mandarins also sensed it and worked out a self-regulatory formula, coming together, sometime in early 2020. But the Government rejected this proposal, and finally in November 2020 the Government of India, through a notification of the Gazette signed by the President of India, put all digital media under his control, that is, under the purview of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. After volleys of protests and concerns, the picture is still unclear as to how this regulation would work in practical terms.

And finally, all hell broke loose when the Hindutva groups vehemently protested against the new Amazon Prime Video web series, Tandav (Catastrophe), objecting to some scenes in the series that supposedly make fun of the Hindu gods. The Government of Uttar Pradesh went so far as to file FIRs against the producers of Tandav, and even threatening arrests. The national ruling party, as usual, came out in full support of the chorus for action and some of its leaders pledged to hold those producers to account, at any cost. The producers were also summoned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ask for explanations. The agitation turned into a complete tandava as objections were also raised against seasons 1 and 2 of Amazon’s most popular web series ‘Mirzapur’ after months of streaming.

Whatever the premises of the objections, the web series in question should be noted here Tandav it is very poorly done and ridiculous, and does not even deserve controversy and free publicity.

Here we can give two ridiculous examples: first, the Prime Minister of India, as shown in the Series, is dining alone in the huge hall without even a single uniformed attendant around, and obviously there were no security guards or meeting rooms. welcome outside as your political representative. the rival bursts in, sits down next to him, snatches the plate from him and begins to eat it himself while he delivers the dialogues; second, a lady carrying a bag of INR 10 million in her car, enters the most protected VVIP area of ​​the so-called national capital, gets out of the car with the bag, walks to a dumpster and pushes the bag, then walks to another campus , he faces one more garbage bin, takes it down and spills on the items, selects the designated item and drives off in his car, and while he has been doing all these actions not a soul is seen around the large area, forget about security personnel or other cars. So many other scenes can be objected to as well, even by neutral connoisseurs of art and film. But why at all? It’s best to let a bad piece of art sink without bubbles.

However, that is not the sense that prevails now. Amazon Prime and all the crew members of Tandav he apologized wholeheartedly, and even the disputed scenes have already been removed. But not! the self-appointed protectors of religion and culture would see them arrested and punished unless others dare! In a society that is already polarized and deeply divided, this does not bode well for the future of art and creativity in the country. Unfortunately, this tandava, not at all related to the revered Lord Shiva, will only intensify further. It is high time that the Government of India presented specific details of the planned regulatory measures.