Increasing public awareness through ‘Misdeeds of OTT & Film world’ program organized in Mumbai

To save the glorious culture of India, the demon of obscenity must be ended ! – Uday Mahurkar, Founder, Save Culture Save India Foundation

Mumbai – Advocating for stricter laws against media that disseminates obscenity, advocating for a defined dress code in cinema with penalties for violators, and fostering collaboration between the government, parent organizations, and youth organizations at the societal level were key points emphasized by Shri. Uday Mahurkar, founder of the ‘Save Culture Save Bharat Foundation’ and former Chief Information Commissioner of India. He addressed these issues during a program titled ‘Misdeeds of O.T.T. & Film World’ held on February 25th at Dadar, Mumbai. During the event, Shri. Mahurkar stressed the importance of enforcing a ‘code of ethics’ on O.T.T. platforms, backed by stringent legislation, to curb the proliferation of sexually explicit, indecent, and immoral content. Joining him were esteemed guests including Swati Goel Sharma, co-founder of ‘Gems of Bollywood’ and a prominent journalist, as well as Mr. Ramesh Shinde, National Spokesperson of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. The event, which took place at the Suryavanshi Kshatriya Auditorium on Veer Savarkar Marg, Dadar (W), featured engaging discussions and interactions with notable figures from the film industry. Renowned actress Bhasha Sumbli and Founder of ‘Gems of Bollywood’ Shri. Sanjeev Newar shared their insights via video, adding depth to the discourse. The program attracted a diverse audience, including professors, students from various colleges, and concerned citizens, all united in their commitment to addressing the societal impact of media content and fostering cultural responsibility.

Shri. Uday Mahurkar emphasized, “Currently, 30 explicit movies infiltrate children’s mobile phones daily through 700 apps on OTT platforms. This alarming trend amounts to treachery. Obscene films stand as a primary catalyst for incidents of rape, with 80 percent of accused perpetrators admitting to being influenced by pornographic content. To curb this, a law should be enacted, ensuring that those producing explicit films face prosecution within four months and receive sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years, without the possibility of bail for three years.

Swati Goel Sharma, co-founder of ‘Gems of Bollywood’ and a prominent journalist, added, “Obscenity and violence are being disseminated through films and web series on OTT platforms. Many leading actors in Hindi cinema have persistently defamed their God, country, and culture, contributing to the erosion of values in the younger generation. It is crucial to hold these self-proclaimed ‘stars’ accountable without succumbing to the anti-cultural influences of the Hindi cinema industry. Eliminating these false ideals from your life will only benefit your family in the long run.”

Mr. Ramesh Shinde, National Spokesperson for Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, remarked, “Today, the ideal family system persists only in India, but even here, the concept of ‘live-in relationships’ has been introduced. Hindi cinema has played a significant role in popularizing ‘Live-in Relationships’ in India. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has consistently opposed inappropriate depictions in Hindi cinema, and our stance has led to apologies from figures like Ekta Kapoor of ‘Alt Balaji.’ Commending Shri. Uday Mahurkar’s campaign against obscenity in Hindi cinema, we believe that the government will play a crucial role in curbing indecency. However, it is essential for each one of us to decide what information we choose to accept from the mobile phones in our hands.”

Mr. Sanjeev Nevar, Founder of ‘Gems of Bollywood,’ conveyed his thoughts to the audience through video interaction, stating, “This form of terrorism, promoting criminal behavior through entertainment, has infiltrated homes via the OTT platform. While actors behind pornographic content on these platforms remain shielded, it is the young girls from ordinary households who become victims. Due to the absence of OTT platforms from the purview of the Censor Act, Hindi cinema is disseminating obscenity and vulgarity. This trend needs to be halted.” Actress Bhasha Sumbli, the lead in the film ‘The Kashmir Files,’ echoed similar sentiments in a video interaction, emphasizing, “The young generation today is being adversely influenced by the explicit and indecent scenes prevalent in Indian Hindi cinema films and web series showcased on OTT platforms. It has become imperative to raise awareness among the general public against these detrimental influences.”

The program commenced with the lighting of the lamp by esteemed speakers. To kick off the event, films addressing the themes of ‘Save Culture, Save India’ and ‘Halal Jihad’ were projected. Following the insightful guidance from the speakers, a session for questions and answers ensued, allowing attendees to seek clarification and dispel any uncertainties. Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar, recognized for his legal battle against explicit and inappropriate scenes in Hindi films, was honored during the event. Distinguished speakers released a comprehensive whitepaper titled ‘OTT Offensive Content Research’ by Gems of Bollywood and the Annual Report 2023 of ‘Save Culture Save India Foundation.’ The program concluded with a resounding rendition of ‘Vande Mataram,’ encapsulating a patriotic and impactful conclusion.