Television and film maker, Ekta Kapoor and her mother Shobha Kapoor have landed in legal trouble due to their web series "Gandii Baat." A case has been filed against them under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly showcasing objectionable scenes involving minor girls.
A case is related to season 6 of the web series streaming on ALT Balaji. Mumbai Police registered a case against Balaji Production house, Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor at the MHB police station. The producers of the series are also charged under sections 295-A of the IPC, the IT Act and sections 13 and 15 of the POCSO Act.
According to the complaint, the web series originally streamed on ALT Balaji between February 2021 and April 2021. However, the controversial episode featuring obscene scenes that involves minor girls is not currently streaming on the OTT platform.
Allegation of showcasing the obscene scenes
The complainant has stated in his complaint that a case has been filed for presenting obscene scenes by young and minor actors in the sequel of the series. In the FIR registered, it was said that objection has been raised over the production of bold content which is allegedly done by the children of 11th and 12th standard, who would be around 16 or 17 years of age.
Could Women Objectification be a cause for workplace harassment in the industry?
India is a country with rich film industry, but unfortunately, the portrayal of women in Indian films has been a topic of concern for a long time. Women have always been objectified and sexualised in Indian films which has been normalised to such an extent that it is hard to imagine a film without the mandatory item number or a scene that shows the female lead in provocative outfit.
The film industry's depiction of women reinforces the idea that a woman's worth lies in her beauty and she is only valuable if she can attract men. But now it is time for the Indian film industry to take responsibility for the messages they are sending and to change the way women are portrayed in films. Women are more than just objects of desire, and their characters should reflect that. The filmmakers should work to create strong, independent female characters that can serve as role models for young girls. They should also stop using item numbers and instead focus on creating content that celebrates women and their accomplishments.
Earlier this year, the Hema Committee Report that highlights the problems faced by women in the film industry which has revealed a deep rot in India's film hubs. The report specifically highlighted the Malayalam industry saying, that the industry is dominated by " a mafia of powerful men" and the "sexual harassment of women is rampant."
Meanwhile, Ekta also emphasised the importance of a safe environment for women at any workplace while reacting to the sensational Hema Committee report. The irony is that Ekta Kapoor has been booked under the POCSO Act.
