After reviewing complaints about scenes featuring children taking drugs, an Indian government body responsible for securing children’s interests has ordered Netflix Inc to promptly cease broadcasting its latest drama series “Bombay Begums.”
The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) wrote to Netflix late Thursday, asking that the company look into the matter and file a response within 24 hours, or face further action.
The NCPCR notice referred to a tweet where a user objected to a scene showing “minors having cocaine”.
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The NCPCR note said, “The series with this sort of content may not only pollute the young minds of children but may also result in child abuse and exploitation.”
“Bombay Begums,” which premiered this week, is a series about five women from various walks of life struggling to make it in modern Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay.
The dispute is the latest to escalate in India, where online streaming sites such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have been accused of spreading obscenity and harming religious feelings. Such lawsuits, according to industry insiders, violate the country’s freedom of speech and expression.
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Last year, a member of India’s ruling party’s youth wing filed a police complaint against Netflix, alleging scenes in the series “A Suitable Boy” depicting a Hindu girl kissing a Muslim boy in front of a Hindu temple.
Amazon has recently been involved in court battles over claims that its political drama “Tandav” portrays Hindu gods in a negative light.
On Friday, many users tweeted their opposition and appreciation for the new Netflix film, making #BombayBegums a top hashtag on Twitter.
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