ACTION BY BCCC ON COMPLAINTS RECEIVED FROM 1 SEPTEMBER 2017 TO 30 APRIL 2019 A : SPECIFIC A-1CONTENT : Specific RELATED Content S.NOrelated complaints Programme Channel Total Nature of Complaints Telecast Action By BCCC Number of date of the Complaints programme Received reviwed by BCCC 1 Netaji Zee Bangla 1 The complainant is from the eldest nephew of Subhash Chandra Nil BCCC admitted the complaint and viewed a few episodes. Bose. He says the programme has completed 56 episodes and the The complaint was theme-centric, not episode-centric, and depiction has now crossed the limits of farcical melodrama involving the channel has taken creative liberties to depict some not only Netaji Subash Bose but also other legends of freedom scenes in keeping with its storyline and fictional struggle such as Aurobindo Ghose, Barin Ghosh and Kshudiram representation. BCCC felt it would be outside its purview to Bose. point out historical aberrations as it would tantamount to Some of the key issues: dictating storylines to channels. As in the past, when a) Subhash Chandra Bose going to school in 1901 at the age of 4 is complaints were received against ‘historical/mythological’ shown in the first episode. In the 54th episode, when Sarat Bose is shows, BCCC averred that there could be various getting married and when Subhash was 12 years old, he is interpretations of history and mythology. After deliberations, represented by the same young boy (character). BCCC decided against any intervention as it feels it isn’t its b) The recent episodes occur at Kodalia and repeatedly show the mandate to point out historical oddities to a channel which restored ancestral house. This is private property and no permission has been showing fictional representation of an enormous for the usage was taken for a commercial venture. historical figure. The complaint was, therefore, DISPOSED c) The episodes depicting Subhash Bose’s expulsion from school are OF. totally false and he had no such misadventures in school as depicted in the serial. The depiction misleads the younger generations and also amounts to defamation of a brilliant student. d) Janaki Nath’s family has been shown as totally anglicised. This is contrary to facts. e) Extraneous characters like Anupurna Devi play a major role in the parallel narrative. This is wrong. f) In violation of all historical facts, Aurobindo and Barin Ghosh are shown involved in revolutionary activities. g) Janaki Nath never wished that his sons come first in class which happens to be a present day Bengali preoccupation. h) Subhash Bose was one of the 14 children but in the programme only uncle Ranen, Satish, Sarat and elder sister Pramila are shown in a house bereft of children. The channel shows a disclaimer which fast exits the screen. It says the serial is not a documentary, the characters may not be true to life and the producer/director is not responsible for discrepancies. Page 1 of 281 S.NO Programme Channel Total Nature of Complaints Telecast Action By BCCC Number of date of the Complaints programme Received reviwed by BCCC 2 Kasauti Star Plus 4 The show promotes violence by justifying acid attacks on women. 25-09-2018 BCCC admitted the complaint and viewed the episodes. It Zindagi Ki They make fun of acid attacks and spread wrong message. A legally 19/03/19 found no reference to acid attacks in both episodes. The married woman is referred as ‘Mistress’. Also, consensual police is shown to be arresting the wife and husband from a relationship between a couple is termed as rape. Prerna files an FIR shady hotel which has attained disrepute and the police against Komolika’s brother Ronit while it was fully consensual keeps reiterating that everyone arrested says they are between Ronit and Shivani. They mock sensitive issues like rape and married couple. The episodes show that the mother is also make mockery of marriage. against the female protagonist while his son is madly in love with her. The earlier episode focused more on the entry of the male antagonist and his futile attempts to win over the female protagonist without much success. BCCC found nothing objectionable in the episodes. The complaints were DISPOSED OF. 3 Kulfi Kumar Star Plus 1 Episode dtd. 15-04-2019: Sikander’s wife sends Kulfi to ‘Bal Sudhar 15-04-2019 Episode dtd. 15-04-2019: BCCC admitted the complaint Bajewala Kendra’ as if it is normal to send any child there. It gives a wrong 24-04-2019 and viewed the episode. There was a reference to Bal message to the viewer. It is believed, only the criminally convicted Sudhar Kendra during Kulfi’s father’s telephonic children can be sent there. Such facts should be either be shown as conversation with a friend who had gone looking out for a scroll in bold or the storyline should be corrected. Kulfi. Kulfi’s father thinks she is in his friend’s safe custody, Episode dtd. 24-04-2019: It shows continuous torture on Kulfi. It is which is not the case, and Kulfi and five other inmates have extremely painful to watch with children. The way Amayra’s character escaped from the centre. There is nothing disparaging hate Kulfi has a negative impact on children. against any character or negative against the Bal Sudhar Kendra. The complaint was, therefore, DISPOSED OF Episode dtd. 24-04-2019: BCCC admitted the complaint and viewed the episode. Kulfi participates in a reality singing show and due to a wicked producer, she gets a shock while singing. She is immediately rushed to hospital and Kulfi’s father, who was present there, threatens the producer. The episode depicts the nefarious designs of the cunning characters but does not inflict any physical harm on Kulfi. The complaint was, therefore, DISPOSED OF. Page 2 of 281 S.NO Programme Channel Total Nature of Complaints Telecast Action By BCCC Number of date of the Complaints programme Received reviwed by BCCC 4 Nazar Star Plus 3 It promotes superstitions and blind belief about ‘Dayans’. Killing of so- 23/03/19 (2 BCCC admitted the complaint and viewed the episodes. In called Dayans is a serious problem in many parts of Assam, where PM), the first episode, Mayank and Koel are supposed to get people kill innocent women branding them to be Dayans. The 20/03/19 married, but the male character falls for the younger sister programme promotes imaginary ghosts with some imaginary names (10:30 PM) Tara. He keeps forcing her to marry him, but she does not and presenting them to be part of the present world. relent. The Council observed that except for a scene in In Episode-171, a character named ‘Mayank’ forces and physically which the male character holds Tara’s wrists and tells her to harasses a character named ‘Tara’ to get married to him. This marry him and stands in her way, there is no objectionable amounts to violence on women, forceful marriage and physical scene. The male character’s insistence to marry him seems harassment. over the top but BCCC did not find this instance of harassment worth intervention as was part of the storyline. The other complaints pertaining to promotion of superstition and blind belief were not found maintainable as the channel did not glorify such practices. The Council, however, decided to caution the channel to make two versions of the same show for telecast in watershed hours and normal hours. The complaint was, thus, DISPOSED OF. Page 3 of 281 S.NO Programme Channel Total Nature of Complaints Telecast Action By BCCC Number of date of the Complaints programme Received reviwed by BCCC 5 Nimki Mukhiya Star Plus 3 Episode dtd. 15 & 16/03/19: It shows the Indian administrative and 15 & 15 & 16/03/19: BCCC admitted the complaint and viewed judicial system in a bad light, that too over a sensitive issue like rape. 16/03/19 the episodes. The BDO and the antagonist’s sister go to Mukhiya Nimki finds Babbu Singh and brings him to the village in 22/03/19 Mumbai to bring Babbu Singh back to the village. Then a front of villagers and then sends him to jail. The content puts the panchayat is organised to decide punishment for Babbu police administration to the backstage as everything is done by the Singh, who has allegedly raped Nimki Mukhiya. The BDO and the Sarpanch themselves. A rape victim gets branded by panchayat’s proceedings have been dramatised. BCCC felt society and the accused gets easy bail in the court without hearing. there was nothing that tarnished the image of judiciary or Police did not arrest him and helped him in every way. In rape cases, administration. The portrayal is in keeping with the storyline such things do not happen. Is anyone above the law? of getting justice for Nimki Mukhiya. Such fictional Dialogues have crossed all limits of vulgarity. It was shameful to representation of plots and sub-plots does not merit BCCC’s listen to the dialogue exchange between the lawyer and the accused. intervention. The complaint was DISPOSED OF. Children repeatedly asked the meaning of these dialogues and 22/03/19: BCCC admitted the complaint and viewed the parents felt humiliated. episode. The family had engaged a lawyer to fight the case. Episode 22/03/19: Dialogues have crossed all limits of vulgarity. It He was involved in tutoring the accused on what he needs was shameful to listen to the dialogue exchange between the lawyer to say in the court. The lawyer tries to make a case of rape and the accused.