Government has banned OTT apps like Ullu, Altt, etc. for "explicit content". But how is Netflix is still up?

The government has banned OTT apps like Ullu, Altt, etc. for "explicit content". But Netflix is still up. Why?

At this moment, Netflix is streaming a 2010 Bengali Erotic Art film called 'Gandu', which has full frontal nudity (both female, and male) along with graphic oral sex displayed absolutely unabashedly. The movie had become quite popular back in the day, and when I found it on Netflix just a few days ago, I was taken aback. "They must have cut out all those explicit parts", I remember thinking. So I put it on, and Boom! No, they hadn't.

There I was, watching a woman fellating a man. In full glory. On Netflix.

"Woah. Mera desh badh raha hai", I thought. And then I carried on living my life..

Now I have no problems with explicit content in movies. I've grown up watching Lars Von Trier, so you can imagine my stance. But what I have a problem with is double standard. And posturing. Those things I hate from my guts.

There you have apps like Chingari/Sharechat going for the super weird "Streaming business", which is another word for the pimping play. And then there's Netflix showing full fledged sexual activity in atleast 20 movies that I personally know of (don't ask me which ones), and here you are "banning" Ullu, Altt, and some godforsaken apps.. for what? To show that you care about curtailing obscenity? Oh, please!

This is BS. If you really care about banning things to a serious effect - ban Netflix. Ban Chingari. Ban Sharechat. Ban things that really matter. But you won't go that far, right? So you ban these little apps to show that you "mean business"? Come on. This doesn't fly!

Personally, I am against censorship. In many episodes of Thinkers' Frequency, we've discussed how the TV industry has been over-regulated and that's one of the reasons why it's dying (DTH subscriptions were at 151 Million homes in 2015, and will be about 75 Million by 2030). What's the fault of people running TV channels? They take all the trouble of starting a channel, and face the constant pressure and regulatory overkill, all when OTT apps are free to do whatever they want just basis "self certification". Where's the level playing field? This makes no sense!

A lot of people respond to that by saying, "You're right! They should regulate OTT just like they regulate TV". And I say, "Sure! Place the same rules on OTT! Or free the TV! Whatever you do, make sure that one industry doesn't die because you can't control the other one!".

"Make sure that one industry doesn't die, because you can't control the other one".

This philosphy applies to OTT apps as well. There's no point trying to play boss by banning smaller apps, when global giants are allowed to do the same thing without any qualms. As they say, ...And Justice for all!

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