Another day, another Netflix series, another controversy: NCPCR slams Bombay Begums for objectionable content

It is another month and another OTT controversy has erupted. If Hindu hatred, seditious and borderline outrageous content was not already enough, streaming platforms like Netflix are now also resorting to normalising drug culture among minor children, apart from such minors indulging in casual sex. ‘Bombay Begums’ is at the centre of the latest controversy, for its mindless portrayal of children as snorters and sex-indulgers. However, the India of 2021 is rather tired of making a long rope available to such anti-social content makers and publishers, which is why the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has stepped in and asked for the streaming of Bombay Begums to be stopped immediately.

Acting on at least two complaints filed against the contentious web series, the apex child rights body issued a notice to OTT platform Netflix on Thursday for the ‘wrongful’ depiction of kids in the web series ‘Bombay Begums’ and asked it to submit an action taken report within 24 hours. Meanwhile, it also asked for the series’ streaming to be immediately stopped. Objecting to the inappropriate portrayal of children in the series, the commission said such content could ‘pollute young minds’ and could also result in the abuse and exploitation of children.

“Netflix should take extra precaution while streaming any content in respect of the children or for the children and shall also refrain themselves from getting into such things,” the commission said in its notice to Netflix slamming Bombay Begums. “Therefore, you are directed to look into this matter and immediately stop streaming of this series and furnish a detailed action report within 24 hours, failing which the Commission will be constrained to initiate appropriate action pursuant to the provisions of Section 14 of the CPCR (Commission for Protection of Child Rights) Act, 2005,” it added.

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In the series, multiple alleged scenes can be seen in which minors are portrayed in a bad light. In one of the scenes, a thirteen-year-old girl takes to snorting cocaine and consuming alcohol upon seeing her ‘crush’ dancing with others. The NCPCR has also taken into cognizance a scene from Bombay Begums where minors are shown taking pictures of their “developed body parts” and send them to a classmate.

The NCPCR made no secret of the fact that the absurd content of Bombay Begums, being spun off as a feminist work-of-art, will “not only pollute the young minds of the children, and may also lead to abuse and exploitation of children in the hands of perpetrators/ offenders.” It is yet to be seen whether Netflix India complies with the strong-worded notice of the NCPCR, or chooses to flout it, inviting tremendous legal action upon itself.