Govt to regulate OTT platforms: Will the content lose its sheen?

It was a dear film buff buddy who called me a while back sounding like death warmed up! “Have you heard about the OTT space all set to be de-flowered? Yaar, is nothing sacred? For once, we are all, collectively exposed to the best of quality fare – local & global – and the Sarkari moral police has to rain on our parade. So, in keeping with the times, we have to sanitise even our movies! Sick, boss!”

My friend wasn’t alone. Several film-makers voiced grave concerns and wondered why they had to interfere with stuff they are not qualified to judge. Isn’t what they did to the Censors and FTII enough proof of their intent and ability to politicise all culture and artistic endeavours? Why don’t they keep out and focus on their mandated larger agenda – of governance; of peace and prosperity, inclusiveness and pluralism to make India truly incredible, they chorus. Expecting them to offer constructive solutions is like expecting moonshine from a carrot, they conclude!

While the evolved and progressive section of viewers have always believed Censors to be bad news and insist that a committee can’t ever really decide what a nation of a billion plus must watch, there are some voices who reckon that our present OTT content needs to be reviewed. Mumbai-based Ad, Theatre and Film personality Bharat Dabolkar is first off the block. A strong advocate of freedom of speech and creative expression, he however has been forced to wonder whether many of the content providers of the OTT platforms are really taking the term OTT a little too seriously! “Like the Art film movement in the 70’s heralded by Shyam Benegal and which began so promisingly but soon got reduced to a formulae – fake, boring, slow, grim – the OTT space too seems to be following a formulae, only this appears to be a race for who can be more liberal with sleazy sex, violence and abusive language! There are over 40 streaming platforms in India (and if reports are to be believed) with tons of attractive young men and women perfectly willing to go to any lengths in the hope of exposure that may lead to Bollywood. This thinking has caught fire and works superbly with one section of the viewers who give it the necessary TRPs to propel it to Season 2,3,4. Hence, in the light of this disturbing reality, governmental rules and regulations, effectively leveraged, could well work as a necessary course correction. However, with the bizarre history of censorship in India, across all spectrums, we can only hope that the medicine is not worse than the illness!”

Veteran, respected film critic Saibal Chatterjee follows with his take. ‘’To me, it’s really a matter of taking control. That’s the bottom line. While Dabolkar certainly makes a valid point about OTT going OTT, the bigger picture is clearly about cracking the whip to demonstrate who the Boss is and the unspoken diktat of stand on parade, or else ... They’ve successfully silenced the biggest celebs in the country – Bollywood and Cricketers heading the list – many of whom converted to become their spokespersons and be suitably rewarded. However, there is a definite flipside. In the name of realism, many film makers are blatantly misusing freedom of expression to insert totally unnecessary scenes of sex, violence and abusive language, clearly to connect with viewers who are into titillation. They’ve gone too far and asked for it. Now it’s up to the sarkari guys to play their role in a meaningful way and not chuck out the baby with the bathwater!”

While classy, recluse, internationally acclaimed actor Victor Banerjee is sure that “we shouldn’t have an I&B Ministry with such diverse responsibilities and pursuits because it becomes a bureaucratic and political farce”.

Versatile actor Adil Hussain winds up the debate, in style. “It’s a tricky issue, a double-edged sword. Judging any creative work - edgy or otherwise – is ultimately subjective. However for me, in this context, some basic criteria is a must. First, a solid committee with no political person or politician. Socialites or Celebrities of the Page 3 variety – media-savvy dazzlers with little real merit but famous for being famous! – to be strictly avoided. The chosen group must comprise serious, responsible, informed, committed people from the areas of psychology, sociology, aesthetics, history and allied subjects related to the issue at hand. They must be acknowledged, respected figures people look up to, thought-leaders without any agenda. If that happens, we could certainly be in for a situation where dross and gross is removed and gold retained. What are the chances? Your guess is as good as mine!”