“OTT platforms to be brought under the I & B ministry.” Stunned silence. Then hushed whispers. Then, a growing crescendo of outraged clamour. “This is shocking”, “now they’ll dictate what we watch?” Shades of a dystopic Orwellian 1984, right?
Not quite. Or not yet, anyway.
Articles and news with headlines such as the one above, were flashed across social media and regular TV channels a few days ago, much to the outrage of netizens – and understandably so.
After all, OTT platforms have been the greatest invention since sliced bread for the millions of Indians who want to watch varied, uncensored content the way the makers of said content intended it to be watched.
Moreover, the very possibility of bringing such content to people, without having to jump through the hoops of Bollywood or the Censor Board, is what has made possible the making of such content in the first place. Wantonly violent, foul mouthed, sexual and politically satirical content – which we all love – with nary a family value in sight (though there are plenty of those available, too).