9th June 2023, Mumbai: Nivedita Basu, Vice President of Content and Business Alliance at Atrangii TV and OTT, shares her perspective on the prevalence of violence and brutality in films and shows. According to her, while there is a lot of talk about these elements in today’s content, they have always existed, and viewers should perceive them as integral parts of the storyline without overthinking them.
Basu acknowledges that violence and voyeurism were prominent in the early days of OTT in India. Films, on the other hand, have included such elements for the past two decades. However, as someone who watches OTT content purely for entertainment, she doesn’t let it affect her. She considers it a form of entertainment meant to entertain the audience. While some may find it excessive at times, there are individuals who enjoy it. Sometimes, when violence is not depicted explicitly, people assume that the makers didn’t show enough, assuming it was worse in real life.
She emphasizes that three years ago, violence, action, and crime subjects dominated the OTT space. However, the landscape has evolved, and a variety of genres have gained popularity. Basu mentions her love for romantic comedies and how she enjoys watching content in different languages. Today, people are attracted to a wide range of shows, not just crime and abusive language. Shows like “Panchayat” and “Gullak” also captivate audiences. The times have changed since the emergence of OTT five years ago, and content diversity has expanded significantly.
Basu points out that the audience has a particular interest in true stories depicted on screen. People are curious to know the details behind real and inspired incidents they may have heard about. The way these stories are portrayed in films or on OTT platforms adds an intriguing element for viewers. When a story is labeled as true or inspired by true events, it piques more interest among the audience, even if it involves a significant amount of crime.