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 past 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 by 2023 and over INR 158 billion by 2024. Currently, the platforms enjoy an audience of over 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 launch of BIGFlix in 2008, 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 feature films, documentaries, short films, and the like, but over time they have launched their own video productions of movies, shorts, and most 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 release; however, for OTT platforms, called Digital Media which 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 filmmakers cannot afford to do in to-be-certified film productions, they can do in the most self-indulgent ways in OTT productions. This means: they can allow their actors to utter all the meaningless slang/abuse galore, they can show explicit sex scenes with graphic indulgence, and they can also have violence without measure, with all the gory detail. This huge advantage would surely raise concerns and alert hardline vigilantes sooner or later.

While 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 mainly cater 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’s internet and mobile services and the consequent drop in internet and mobile rates everywhere, the subscriber doors were also opened to the huge sector of rural India.

Naturally, then, the Government of India started thinking about bringing the hugely growing digital media as a whole under its regulation. The mandarins of the OTT leadership also sensed this and worked out a self-regulation formula, joining, sometime in early 2020. But the Government rejected this proposal and finally, in November 2020, the Government of India, through a Gazette notification signed by the President of India, put all digital media under his control i.e. under the purview of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. After barrages of protest and concern, 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 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 chorus support for action and some of its leaders vowed to hold these producers to account, at any cost. The producers were also summoned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to request 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 airing.

Whatever the premises of the objections, the web series in question should be noted here Tandav it’s very poorly done and ridiculous, and it doesn’t even deserve controversy and free publicity.

Here we can give two ridiculous examples: First, the Prime Minister of India, as shown in the Serial, is having dinner alone in the huge hall with not a single uniformed attendant around, and there were obviously no security guards or reception rooms. outside as its political representative. the rival bursts in, sits next to him, snatches the plate from him and begins to eat it himself while delivering 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 garbage can and pushes the bag, then enters another campus , he faces one more garbage can, puts it down and spills over the items, selects his designated item and drives off in his car, and while he’s been doing all these actions, not a soul is to be seen around the large area, forget about security personnel or other cars. Objections can be raised to so many other scenes 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 crew members of Tandav he apologized unconditionally, and even the disputed scenes have already been deleted. But not! the self-styled protectors of religion and culture would see them arrested and punished for as little as 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 Indian government came up with specific details of the planned regulatory measures.