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Friday, March 29, 2024
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HomeOpinionUncensored Netflix is forcing Indian audiences to grow up

Uncensored Netflix is forcing Indian audiences to grow up

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From the deliciously sexy Lust Stories to shows like Romil and Jugal, Netflix and Prime Video have given creators courage.

It took me two rounds of watching Sacred Games to understand what was different about seeing an Indian show on Netflix. I managed to finally articulate the difference: I was watching something completely, honestly uncensored.

It’s not about the sex scenes (of which there were many), the nudity (for which Rajshri Deshpande was, of course, trolled), or the near-senseless violence.

It was because the people on the screen were talking about politicians, caste, and the world around them, much like we were. It was dirty, sometimes offensive, but completely real. And that’s what censorship of movies and TV series keeps away from us—an unfiltered image to what is, in all honesty, a rather terrible society, in many ways.


Also read: Women in Netflix’s Sacred Games act as motivators for men, their own motivation is a mystery


Visual entertainment in India is subject to pre-censorship, which essentially means that you actually need to get a ‘certificate’ that allows public distribution of content. It’s archaic, draconian, and often misused. The Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) is called the ‘censor board’ for good reason. It overreaches, insists on cuts, and tries to curtail freedoms that it has absolutely no jurisdiction over. The objections it has raised over the past few years range from a James Bond kiss to the fact that a movie is ‘lady oriented’. The nuisance value of this board has allowed it a free rein to terrorise content creators to such an extent that they would rather make a meek film instead of fighting for an honest one.

And who can blame them, really? The Indian red tape is legendary for its obnoxiousness, and big money is riding on these productions. For all the talk of how the supply-side has to take a stand, the demand-side doesn’t really give them any impetus to. Why would a creator bother fighting the good fight for the integrity of their movie when they know it’ll be subjected to worse abuse outside the Board’s purview? The Indian audience (yes, you and me) is practically infantile when it comes to tolerating any viewpoints other than our own. We’re quick to take offence, and quicker to file FIRs.

And in comes Netflix (with other over-the-top—OTT—content platforms). Online content has been a free-for-all ride in India, and these platforms have taken full advantage of that. From the deliciously sexy (albeit problematic) Lust Stories to an earnest attempt at portraying the LGBTQ community through shows like Romil and Jugal, these platforms have given creators more courage. The fact that funding, distribution and audacity are all in fair supply allows for content that is not trying to appease. It’s trying to provoke, to empathise, to elicit conversation. Netflix is providing content that will force Indian audiences (at least the ones it reaches) to grow up.

While Sacred Games did elicit a feeble reaction from Congress cadres, it was quashed down promptly by the party leadership. Despite that, Netflix chose to censor the cause of contention, possibly to avoid any more trouble. This was the first sign that online content just wasn’t as immune to external factors as it thought itself to be. The fiasco culminated in a meeting of the top video-on-demand providers earlier this month with a plan to create a ‘self-censorship model’. Sure, Amazon Prime has taken a pretty steadfast stance against this, but is this, with the brewing of an ‘online content regulation’ policy by the government, the tamping down of yet another avenue of expression in the country?


Also read: With Sacred Games, Bollywood finds a new home for its politics in Netflix


The usual explanation given for the brutalisation of art in this country is: “We need to protect sentiments.” I’d like to quote Daniel Sloss (whose comedy special, DARK, on Netflix is a masterclass in how humour is essential to the processing of human emotions) here: “I will say horrific things about myself and the people I love, but if you get offended by that you are putting yourself in a story you were not invited to be in, I allowed you to listen to it.” We need to stop taking offence on behalf of people or a perceived attack on our sentiments. We’ve been shepherded and babied for so long that our ability to consume content that doesn’t pander to us has never had the chance to develop.


Also read: Has Netflix created an entertainment divide in India?


The impact of art lies in the nuances it gives the audience to ponder about. Indian entertainment is woefully behind in this department. With Netflix and Prime Video, we’ve been given a chance to learn how to be better viewers. But it is a two-way street. We, as an audience, need to give online platforms the reason to maintain the integrity and variety of content it hosts. Sometimes, it means switching off something you don’t like or engaging with it, or simply, making content in response to it. But not trying to prevent it from existing altogether.

It’s a choice. Make it.

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5 COMMENTS

  1. What is unique about India, we say it’s our culture. everyone knows what it is, sex or violence. There is no need for reality in it. There is a Laxman reka, if we cross it our uniqueness will lost for ever. If the author wants to enjoy the reality let it start from his own house where sex or violence can be a reality, not on other man’s belief. And don’t say there is no tolerance in India. Sorry to say this author, I am an ordinary citizen of India who respect this culture. Don’t use this powerful media to spread this nonsense of yours. Don’t spoil our unique culture of respecting family values.

  2. But if unchecked where is the limit, I mean the violence can go off rails at many a times and unnecessary sex scenes fill up the space in an attempt to attract audiences

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