OTT platforms in the soup after theatrical films come on the radar

Video streaming platforms that were already treading with care when it came to tackling political or religious themes in the originals commissioned by them, have now found themselves in the soup with films that have released in theatres after censor board approval coming on the radar once on OTT.

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So far, mainstream theatrical films were being seen as a safer bet given that they were already exposed to wider audiences and passed by the censor board, but the recent takedown of Tamil film Annapoorani-The Goddess of Food by Netflix after a backlash from Hindu groups has rendered streaming platforms vulnerable. Content creators and streaming platforms are now fearing a separate certification and censorship process for OTT content, signs of which are already present in portions of the draft broadcast bill.

The Nayanthara-starrer that was cleared by the censor board and had released in cinemas in December was removed from the streaming platform on producer Zee Studios' request after members of hard-line Hindu groups objected to the plot that is centered around a Hindu Brahmin woman going against her family's religious beliefs to cook and eat meat.

Some scenes, including one where the actor is shown offering namaz before making biryani, have been accused of hurting religious sentiments.