ITV

Tag: Tandav

  • New IT guidelines not intended to control OTT platforms: I&B minister

    New IT guidelines not intended to control OTT platforms: I&B minister

    NEW DELHI: The government has attempted to provide a level-playing field for various digital platforms through the new guidelines on over-the-top (OTT) platforms, said union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar, amid concerns that the new rules may pose a threat to the freedom of expression.

    The minister mentioned that digital technology platforms have played a key role in promoting transparency and introducing a corruption-free atmosphere in governance.

    “Through these guidelines on OTT, we have tried to bring about transparency and provide a level playing field to various media platforms, be it electronic, print, or digital media. It is just for fair-facilitation for self-regulation and not intended for controlling the OTT platforms,” said Javadekar, while speaking at a digital media conclave organised by a private TV network in Mumbai.

    The new rules released by the government on 25 February ask for a three-tier grievance system and content classification for digital platforms. First, self-regulation by the platform through a grievance redressal officer; second, by an institutional self-regulatory body of industry experts, and third level of oversight through an interdepartmental committee constituted by the government.

    While this may create a forum where users can voice their complaints, there are concerns that it could also lead to an increase of content-related disputes in the country. Several video streaming platforms are already mired in controversies over their content, the latest being Amazon Prime’s Tandav and Netflix’s Bombay Begums.

    The formulation of guidelines took place expeditiously, revealed Javadekar, with more than 50 cabinet meetings held virtually to ensure that there weren't any delays in the decision-making.

    The union minister also talked about the decision to broadcast the old Doordarshan TV series like Ramayana, Mahabharat during the pandemic and how it registered record-breaking viewership.

  • ‘Potential to undermine media freedom’: Editors Guild on new IT rules

    ‘Potential to undermine media freedom’: Editors Guild on new IT rules

    NEW DELHI: The Editors Guild of India has raised concerns about the Indian government’s new Information Technology rules, saying they will “fundamentally alter” and put “unreasonable restrictions” on digital media.

    On 25 February, the Centre notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, under the Information Technology Act. The rules are framed to regulate social media companies, streaming and digital news content, virtually bringing them under the ambit of government supervision.

    Online platforms will now have to be much more responsive to complaints about posts on their networks, including giving the government details about the “originator” of content – effectively breaking end-to-end encryption – as well as setting up verification systems that could have a major impact on individual privacy.

    The Editors Guild said the government cannot “overwhelm India’s constitutional safeguards” for free media in the name of controlling an “unfettered social media”.

    “The rules, issued under the Information Technology Act, 2000, fundamentally alter how publishers of news operate over the Internet,” the association said. “They empower the Union government to block, delete, or modify published news anywhere in the country without any judicial oversight and mandate all publishers to establish a grievance redressal mechanism. Various provisions in these rules can place unreasonable restrictions on digital news media, and consequently media at large.”

     

     

    The Editors Guild added that the rules have potential to “seriously undermine” media freedom in India. It expressed concern over the fact that the government did not consult all stakeholders before notifying the “far-reaching rules”.

    The association urged the government to suspend the rules and hold a meaningful consultation with the stakeholders.

    Meanwhile on Friday, the Supreme Court noted that the rules to regulate streaming platforms “lacked teeth” as there was no provision to punish violators. It made the observation while granting interim protection from arrest to Amazon Prime Video’s India content head Aparna Purohit in the criminal complaints lodged against her in connection with the web series Tandav.

    Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said he will submit a draft legislation to the court.

    On Thursday, minister of information and broadcasting Prakash Javadekar had clarified that OTT platforms will not have to register with the ministry and that a self-regulating body under the new digital rules would have no members appointed by the government. Javadekar claimed that the rules focused on self-classification of content instead of imposing any form of censorship.

  • SC favours OTT guidelines, says screening needed

    SC favours OTT guidelines, says screening needed

    KOLKATA: The Supreme Court on Thursday remarked that there should be pre-censorship of OTT content like films while hearing a plea by Amazon Prime Video India originals head Aparna Purohit. She had moved the apex court challenging Allahabad high court order denying anticipatory bail to her in connection with the Tandav controversy.

    "We are of the view that some screening of OTT content should take place,” the bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and S Subhash Reddy said. "In fact, some platforms even show pornography.”

    Being informed of the new rules announced by the government to regulate OTT content, the bench directed solicitor-general Tushar Mehta to place the rules on record and circulate it.

    Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Purohit, stated that it was shocking that she, neither a producer, nor an actor, has still been made an accused in the cases against Tandav. The Allahabad high court had rejected Purohit’s bail plea on 25 February, pronouncing that “…the applicant had not been vigilant and has acted irresponsibly making her open to criminal prosecution in permitting streaming of a movie which is against the fundamental rights of the majority of citizens of this country.”

    The matter will be again taken up on Friday.

    Tandav, which premiered on Amazon Prime in January this year, has been embroiled in a series of controversies. A petition was filed against the makers and actors for hurting religious sentiments by mocking Hindu deities in some scenes of the web series. They were also accused of showing the Uttar Pradesh police in bad light. Multiple complaints – including three FIRs in Uttar Pradesh – were filed against the makers of the show as well as the actors involved.

    Yesterday, Amazon Prime Video once again issued an unconditional apology for the “objectionable” scenes in Tandav, and reiterated that all such scenes were deleted or edited.

  • Tandav fills the need gap of political drama format for Amazon Prime Video

    Tandav fills the need gap of political drama format for Amazon Prime Video

    KOLKATA: As 2021 dawns, Amazon Prime Video has given a peek at its new content line up. The streaming service recently unveiled the trailer of new original series Tandav. The nine-episode political drama will start streaming on 15 January.

    Amazon Prime Video India originals head Aparna Purohit said the story of Tandav is truly rooted in our soil. “This is our first political drama. It is an interesting story about the pursuit of power and the lengths one will go to get it and in some cases keep it. It has the right doses of all the ingredients: love, hate, deceive, betrayal, suspense, and thrill,” she shared.

    The trailer of the show takes viewers behind the closed, chaotic corridors of power and politics. Set in the capital of the world’s largest democracy, the series is a gripping, fictional drama that showcases the lengths to which people go in their quest for power.

    Purohit went on to say that Prime Video has always endeavoured to tell stories that are culturally rooted, shows that can speak to the many Indias that co-exist. While the platform already has many genres in its library of original content, political drama was the only missing piece which will now be addressed by Tandav. For a nation that is so obsessed with its politics, banking on a large scale political drama was not a difficult call to take.

    “I distinctly remember when Ali (Ali Abbas Zafar, creator of Tandav) narrated the story to us in 2017. He is a very visual narrator. We felt that the story was a peek into the world that we read about in newspapers and see on the television but hardly know about in detail. It was a very easy decision to make to opt for this one. And then finally the wonderful cast came together for this show and breathed life into the characters and created all the magic. I am incredibly proud of this show and this journey that we have had,” she said.

    Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the political drama features an ensemble cast comprising Saif Ali Khan, Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub, Dimple Kapadia, Kritika Kamra, Gauahar Khan, Sarah Jane Dias, Sunil Grover, Dino Morea, Anup Soni, Kumud Mishra and Sandhya Mridul. The script is by Article 15 writer Gaurav Solanki.

    The official synopsis of the web series reads, “The charismatic leader of a premiere political party, Samar Pratap (Saif Ali Khan), feels he’s ready to inherit the chair of PM after his party wins the elections. Samar’s father, the party patriarch and the prime minister of the country, Devki Nandan (Tigmanshu Dhulia) is not willing to retire yet. Anuradha, Devki’s close associate (Dimple Kapadia), party senior leader Gopal Das (Kumud Mishra) are few of many other leaders considering themselves fit to sit the chair. But the chair never comes easy. A parallel story plays out with the idealistic campus activist Shiva (Zeeshan Ayub) who becomes an overnight youth icon as he shines at a political event. Shiva wants to bring about the change, sway the youth and overthrow the power pillars. Shiva gets the first taste of power. Shiva and Samar’s lives intersect as the national politics meets the campus activism. The dance of politics ensues as a series of events expose the inherent deceit, manipulation, greed, ambition and violence in all the relationships.”