With strict Information & Broadcasting guidelines for the streaming platform (and with more to follow) the major streaming platforms are playing it as safe as they can. All of their forthcoming serials are being toothcombed by “experts” to ensure there are no religious or political references.
“None at all,good or bad. We are henceforth going to black out all references to politics and religion,” an OTT content producer confides adding that content with political and religious references are currently “on hold”. Ali Abbas Zafar’s Tandav starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover and others faced massive outrage on social media, and was embroiled in controversy right from the time it released. A section of Netizens demanded a ban on Tandav, and accused it of hurting religious sentiments.
Ali Abbas Zafar had issued an apology on behalf of the cast and crew of Tandav. The statement read, “We have been closely monitoring viewer reactions to the web series Tandav and today during a discussion, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have informed us regarding a large number of grievances and petitions received on various facets of the web series with serious concerns and apprehensions regarding its content hurting the sentiments of the people.”
“The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion, or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead. The cast and crew of Tandav take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologize if it has unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments,” read the statement.
Image source: IMDb