Amazon Prime Video gets MIB notice over its web series ‘Tandav’

In perhaps the first controversy of the year over OTT content, political series ‘Tandav’ is facing severe flak for ridiculing Hindu Gods and goddesses. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued a notice to Amazon Prime Video, where the series is being streamed, seeking an explanation from the OTT platform.

MIB’s move comes after two BJP legislators lodged complaints against ‘Tandav’ for hurting Hindu sentiments. BJP MP Manoj Kotak has filed a police complaint against the makers of ‘Tandav’, as well as written to I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking a ban on the web series. In his letter, Kotak stressed that there was an “urgent need to regulate” the digital platforms that are taking “undue advantage” of the freedom they enjoy. “There is no law or autonomous body governing OTT platforms. Programmed telecasts on OTT platform are full of sex, violence, drugs, abuse, hate and vulgarity. Sometimes they also hurt the sentiments of Hindu and religious sentiments,” he added.

On Sunday, BJP MLA Ram Kadam also lodged a complaint against the makers of ‘Tandav’ at the Ghatkopar police station in Mumbai, and urged the authorities to take “strict action” against the actors, producers and director of the show. 

‘Tandav’, which has been directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Himanshu Kishan Mehra, stars some popular actors, including Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Sunil Grover, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, among others.

The protests against ‘Tandav’ join the increasing voices that are calling for regulating content on OTT streaming platforms. OTT saw a tremendous growth in consumption and number of users during the lockdown period, which has continued as India unlocked. Industry experts say that OTT is no longer niche and has attained mass medium status today, hence the content needs to be regulated keeping in mind the family audience, just as television content is regulated.