Ekta Kapoor and her ALTBalaji are well-known for their morally rotten content in the Indian entertainment industry. Her OTT platform ALTBalaji App is infamous for pushing the boundaries of decency, especially when it comes to objectifying people and stopping an inch short of pornographic content.
🚨 Producer #EktaKapoor and her mother #ShobhaKapoor face legal action under the Protection of Children from Se#ual Offences (POCSO) Act. 🚨
🔸 The case is linked to inappropriate scenes involving minors in Gandi Baat season 6, streamed on ALT Balaji between February and April… pic.twitter.com/IK2CbXpM6b
— PitchAndPopcorn (@RajnilSarma99) October 20, 2024
Ekta Kapoor’s several shows are under public and legal scrutiny for their overtly sexual content. The societal impact of her content on young, impressionable audiences is irreversible and frighteningly dangerous. Despite attempts to frame these shows as modern and bold entertainment, they cross all ethical boundaries and skirt just shy of breaking legal boundaries. Currently, Ekta Kapoor and her mother are charged under POCSO Act for exploiting minor actresses while promoting damaging stereotypes at ALTBalaji!
Over-Sexualization: The Core Of ALTBalaji Content?
Congrats @mieknathshinde Govt for filing FIR against Ekta Kapoor under POCSO Act for serving objectionable S€exual content on @ALTT .First Govt in Bharat to show political will to act against those destroying Bharat’s character for easy money & that too while sitting in the den… pic.twitter.com/btMWAk8leH
— Uday Mahurkar (@UdayMahurkar) October 20, 2024
Intially, the complaint was filed in 2021 in Borivali against Ekta Kapoor and her mother Shobha Kapoor. Thereafter, it took 3 years to lead to actual indictment under POCSO Act! The case, filed by a concerned yoga instructor, highlighted the moral decay being promoted on ALTBalaji in the show ‘Gandi Baat’. Further investigations revealed that shows like Class of 2017 and Class of 2020 featured minors performing obscene acts, which led to a public outcry and legal actions against the platform.
वेब सीरीज़ बनाना अच्छी बात है ✅
लेकिन गंदी वेबसीरीज़ बनाना तो अच्छी बात नही है❌ #EktaKapoor #GandiBaat pic.twitter.com/asLx8YJ110
— Review Bollywood (@ReviewBollywoo1) October 21, 2024
However, this is not the first time ALTBalaji has crossed legal lines. In 2020, the Maharashtra cyber police department registered a case against the streaming service for allegedly transmitting pornographic content. The complaint was filed after a man from the Palghar district came across a news story about someone arrested for filming and distributing pornographic videos online.
An FIR has been filed against Ekta Kapoor and her mother, Shobha Kapoor, over what the complainant has alleged are obscene scenes involving minors in the show 'Gandi Baat' on the Alt Balaji OTT platform.
Those who participated in the show were actors playing their roles in a… pic.twitter.com/KBrrHgI9Kv
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) October 20, 2024
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that several OTT platforms, including ALTBalaji, circulated obscene videos without legal certification. Moreover, ALTBalaji was violating multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. Thus, the 2020 charges showcase that these platforms produce and distribute content that degrades women, exploits actors, and damages the moral fabric of society.
These incidents further highlight how ALTBalaji and Ekta Kapoor have historically pushed the limits of law and decency, prioritizing profit over responsibility.
ALTBalaji Unfiltered Content Accessible To Minors
One of the most alarming aspects of ALTBalaji is the easy accessibility of such content. The app offers little in the way of proper content filtering, allowing young viewers to access sexually explicit shows. Given the absence of a robust certification system or parental controls, children and teenagers are dangerously exposed to content that should, in all reasonable circumstances, be considered illegal or restricted.
Thus, Ekta Kapoor and her company often portray women and men as animals capable of only sexual desire. The streaming platform has been accused of normalizing over-sexualization and promoting indecent portrayals of women under the guise of progressive storytelling. However, these shows not only cross moral lines but also tread dangerously close to violating societal norms.
Ekta Kapoor often likes to break the sociatal contrsuct of decency by glamorizing immoral and problematic relationships, often in the context of Hindu society.
ALTBalaji defends this content as freedom of expression. However, the reality is that these shows reflect an unhealthy obsession flavored with sensationalism. The sexual exploitation and the objectification of young women and men is an easy way to earn money for the app. The platform seems to thrive on blurring boundaries between entertainment and vulgarity, without any meaningful exploration of the deep societal impact.
ALTBalaji: A Poisonous Cocktail Of Objectification and Exploitation
The impact of such content on society, especially the youth, cannot be overstated. These shows create a distorted perception of relationships, reducing human connections to mere physical attraction and exploiting sexual themes for sensationalism. The rampant objectification of women not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but also desensitizes viewers to the dignity and respect that should be accorded to every individual.
Moreover, the unchecked sexual content on ALTBalaji poses a serious risk to the mental and emotional development of young viewers.
It sends a dangerous message that sex and casual relationships are not only acceptable but desirable. Additionally, the themes of shows where familial relationships are ignored in the face of sexual needs corrupt the young minds. Thereby, undermining the core values of respect, consent, and emotional connection among the youth. Consequently, this leads to a degradation of societal morals. And itt encourages a view of women as mere objects rather than individuals with autonomy and dignity.
A Call for Stricter Rules: Time for Regulatory Action
The ALTBalaji case underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations in the Indian entertainment industry. There is an urgent need for the I&B Ministry to reframe laws for OTT platforms. The current laws are inadequate for the path that online entertainment has taken! Thereby, allowing platforms like ALTBalaji to exploit legal loopholes and evade accountability.
The Ministry of I&B must take stronger measures to ensure that such content is filtered, certified, and held to higher standards of responsibility.
There is a dire need for better content regulation, which would include stricter age verification mechanisms. Additionally, proper content warnings and penalties for platforms that promote obscene or harmful material are essential. Furthermore, the government should consider setting up independent bodies to regularly review OTT content regularly. Thereby, ensuring that soft porn is not sold as entertainment!
The entertainment industry should not be allowed to sell rot in the name of freedom and creativity.
Content that degrades women, exploits actors and corrupts young minds must be held accountable under the law.
The commercialization of such societal degradation must come to an end. All platforms, like ALTBalaji, must either face severe reform or legal consequences. The time has come for the I&B Ministry to impose stringent laws. These laws should ensure that content harmful to society, especially women and children, cannot be marketed as entertainment. Bharat’s youth must be protected. And its cultural integrity and moral values should be saved from the poison being peddled by platforms like ALTBalaji!