Salman Khan on OTT censorship: Over-the-top platforms have been an escape not only for the content creators in the film industry who were facing discrimination at the hands of distributors but also for the moviegoers who, after the emergence of OTT platforms, could consume content from the comfort of their homes. However, obscenity has been a constant concern among Indian families. Now, one of the three Khans, Salman Khan, has spoken over the same.
The question of censorship on OTT
The film industry in the 80s and 90s saw the induction of a new generation of filmmakers, which did its job—that is, Urdufication of the industry and disseminating left-liberal propaganda. Over the years, it started becoming evident, and the audience was upset with it when the OTT platforms kicked in.
As Bollywood kept decimating its image, Indian small screen space has strongly pounced on the vacated space. In the last few years, the OTT platforms have delivered multiple web series with great content, giving a platform to fine actors to showcase their talent ignored by the nepotistic industry.
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Be it Aspirants or The Family Man, Gullak or Special Ops, the Indian entertainment industry is being rightfully resurrected by Web series. However, there are a few exceptions, such as Scared Games and Paatal Lok. What are they? Well, if critically observed, this is nothing more than leftist propaganda packed with Hinduphobia and obscenity. Some showmakers even had to face legal action over the content, for instance, in XXX by Ekta Kapoor.
Salman Khan bats for OTT censorship
Salman Khan has Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan in the pipeline. This would be his most-awaited release after a series of flops. Just before that, he was making headlines. During a press conference held over the Filmfare Awards 2023, he talked about censoring OTT. Salman Khan batted for the censorship of OTT platforms, saying that they have overdone nudity and vulgarity, which are corrupting 15- and 16-year-olds, and alleging that the content being produced is culturally alien to a family value-conscious Hindustan.
He said, “I really think there should be censorship in the medium (OTT). All this vulgarity, nudity, and gaali galauch (swearing) should stop. Kids as young as 15 or 16 years old can watch them all. Would you like it if your young daughter watched it?”
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Khan opined that “cleaner content” would gain more censorship as compared to the present one. Talking about steering clear of intimate and erotic scenes in his career, Khan pointed out, “You have done it all—lovemaking, kissing, and exposing scenes. And when you enter your building, your watchman has also watched your work. I just don’t think that is right for security reasons.”
Why Salman Khan needs to look back
After the black buck case and hit-and-run case, Khan has tried to build an image around himself, banking on his charity, the Being Human Foundation, being everyone’s BHAI in the industry. However, in his recent stint, he appeared to be more right than he actually was.
The advice would have sounded better coming from anyone other than Salman Khan. Khan’s entire screen presence and fan following have been built on his shirtless looks. Or should the songs with double entendres be forgotten while listening to this advice? The entire film industry is guilty of objectifying women not only in subjugated feminine roles and setting beauty standards but also due to over-popularising item numbers.
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Further, the advice coming from the host of a reality show like Big Boss puts the entire industry in hot water. Season after season, all that the reality show has presented is a toxic cocktail of negative emotions: street fights, cheating, theft, ugly gossip, bullying, fake marriages, and body-shaming on prime time. Many would opine that the prime-time show that Salman Khan presided over has been the most violent attack on Indian culture.
Maybe it’s high time that Bollywood stars stop suddenly adhering to popular opinion just before their new film is all set to hit the theatres. There is no denying that trash must not be premiered in the name of relevance. Obscenity and nudity cannot be presented to the audience in the name of creativity; however, there must be an effort to achieve the same from inside the industry.
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