I saw the eight episodes long serial, on different days, the Netflix serial ‘Sacred Games,’ which seems to be running well. I must admit that the thriller part of the program was fine, but couldn’t understand the explicit and uncensored sex scenes, wondering if this is going to be the trend in the future. Indian films often face the wrath of the scissors from an insensitive censor board, living in a well, oblivious of the world around. If that’s one extreme, the other is the uncensored material that is clogging the networks on the internet and now spreading its tentacles in family living rooms as well.
Permitting uncensored material is a two-edged weapon. While one side of the opinion is allowing viewers to choose from the very many offers from crime thrillers, to favoured news channels, the extent of the adverse impact of such programs over immature and adolescent minds should not be dismissed outright. This, given the increased incidences of rapes and molestations in our country over the last two decades.
The government with alacrity banned many TV Channels like ftv and a few other late-night shows to safeguard the children, who may have unrestricted access. A few portals indulging in child pornography was also banned, with the threat of severe legal action for the broadcasters and the sharers. I do not know the extent of success of such moves by the law enforcing authorities so far.
I recall a movie of the seventies, Do Rahaa, which ran to full houses. This perhaps was the first taste of the sex-hungry Indians. Bookstores always had a copy or two of Playboy magazines, that saw the light only for regulars, offered at a premium. Over the years, the country learnt to tolerate and permit soft porn for public viewing. I read that a Hindi movie hit the box-office for the vivid masturbation scenes by one of the heroines!
There cannot be two rules, one for the locally made masala movies and the one that can be viewed at homes from Netflix or Amazon. ‘Leave it to the discretion of the viewers,’ some can be heard shouting, but the maturity levels of the viewers should not be dismissed, as it can endanger the safety of women. I can see a clash of cultures, between our and the western world and merely wish that the collateral damage is minimal for our nation, especially the youth.
Why at all the ‘Sacred’ was added to the name Sacred games is the question!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide voix
Readers are welcome to share their stand on the trend of uncensored material being permitted for broadcasting!