It seems, enough, that anger is waiting to happen. The growth of Over-the-top Internet Service (OTT) platforms that distribute online video streaming, has been the largest in the last eight years in India; in 2018 its market worth more than INR 21.5 billion has grown to INR 35 billion by 2019 and is now around INR 40 billion now. Market value is expected to grow at an outstanding rate of 45% to reach approximately INR 138 billion by 2023 and more than 158 billion by 2024. The platforms enjoy viewing of more than 1.7 billion subscribers currently estimated at 5 billion this year, making it the second largest OTT market after the US. In addition to BIGFlix’s Reliance Entertainment launch in 2008, 40 major OTT platforms such as SonyLIV, Disney-Hotstar, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Voot, JioCinema and Zee5 began operating in India in 2013-18.
Initially, OTT platforms distributed streaming films, documentaries, short films and the like, but in time they introduced and produced their own video productions for movies, shorts and, most importantly, the Web Series, and distributed those subscribers who could enjoy them. -themmphonephones, laptops and desktops. Here’s the catch: there are already print and electronic regulatory agencies; advertising spaces; and visual media including films, documentaries and other theater productions; however, on OTT platforms, called Digital Media which included social media and all other online communications, there were no regulatory frameworks, and this gave them a unique opportunity.
After watching streaming videos, especially the Web series with up to 9-10 episodes, one feels, and sensible enough, that what filmmakers can’t do in proven film productions, they can do a lot of fun in OTT products. This means: they can let their characters talk about all the suffering/ abuse in the crowd, they can show explicit sexual scenes in explicit entertainment and they can be immeasurably violent, in full detail. This great benefit would raise concerns and warn hardworking people, sooner or later.
While some media outlets, though controlled, have been subjected to attacks from rogue and offline groups, Web series products, while displaying extremely high-quality content, have continued to enjoy some form of self-defense outside of PIL for some time. This situation is probably explained by the fact that OTT platforms cater more to urban users with the necessary resources, and the view is for entertainment made with headphones. As a result of Digital India’s connectivity campaign, the emergence of Jio’s mobile phones and internet services, as well as the subsequent crash of mobile and internet travel cases across, the gates of subscribers are also open to India’s largest rural sector.
Naturally then the Government of India began to think about bringing in the growing digital media under its rule. The mandarins of OTT executives also felt that, working for a self-regulatory formula, meeting together, sometime in early 2020. However, the Government rejected the proposal, and finally in November 2020 the Government of India, by notice in the Gazette signed by the President of India, brought all digital media under its control, that is, at the behest of the Department of Information and Broadcasting. After many protests and concerns, the picture is still unclear as to how this law will work in a practical way.
However, that is not the case now. Amazon Prime and all Tandav staff members apologize unconditionally, and disputed sites have been removed. But no! those who claimed to be religious and cultural defenders would see them arrested and punished lest some try! In a society that is already fragmented and deeply divided, this does not bode well for the future of the arts and crafts of the country. Unfortunately, this Tandav, which has nothing to do with the revered King Shiva, is only set to continue to strengthen. It is time for the Government of India to come out with some details of the intended regulatory measures.
Chinmay Chakravarty is an expert in the field of art with more than two decades of experience in journalism, media liaison, film writing, filmmaking, film and video production, international film festival management and book and journal editing. Specialist in providing professional services in these related fields He was the Director of the Indian Information Service and was appointed Director, Press Information Bureau, Kolkata in November, 2019. He published his first solo book ‘Laugh and Let Laugh’ in 2017