Carry on complaining

TV regulatory body reveals silliest and most bizarre issues brought up by viewers.

Over the last six months, the Broadcasting Content Complaint Council (BCCC) has received 3,900 complaints from couch potatoes in the country. Of these, 460 were found genuine, confirms the body’s secretary Naresh Chahel. “Most complaints are generic with suggestions to add or remove content or characters from a show.

Requests to change timings are also sent,” he says, adding, “A letter was sent by someone who pleaded with us to help him find a job as a writer on a TV show.” The Information and Broadcasting ministry also forwards grievance letters to this controlling body. The complaint that BCCC found the silliest regarded Khatron Ke Khiladi. “The complaint pointed out that host Akshay Kumar would chant the Gayatri Mantra before the stunts, and questioned whether the girls were pavitra (menstruating)?” Naresh adds.

Bigg Boss Season Five was one of the shows this year which garnered maximum complaints. “They were largely against Sunny Leone. It said that she was seeking publicity on her adult website through the show,” recalls the official. The channel Colors was asked to remove Bigg Boss references from her site.

“The assaults can be suggested as part of the story, but not graphically shown,” rues Naresh, adding, “English channels have been asked to modify content to suit Indian standards.”

Silly issues
Requests to change programme timings.

Demands for changing actors.

Requests to get the complainant cast in a show.

Faulty cable connections.

With mythological and historical shows, issues vary from usage of a song to incorrect depiction of characters.

Serious ‘serial’ stuff
Saubhagyawati Bhavah: Received 12 complaints for objectionable content on domestic violence and promotion of gender bias.

Bigg Boss 5: 42 complaints, majority relating to porn star Sunny Leone’s presence and alleged promotion of porn.

Na Aana Is Des Laado: Derogatory depiction of women was objected to. BCCC felt the episodes were in violation of their guidelines.

Super Stud: 21 complaints regarding obscenity and nudity. BCCC ensured it wasn’t aired during primetime.

How to approach the BCCC ?
Address the complaint to the Standard and Practices (S&P) Department of TV Channel in writing.
Don’t forget the name of the channel, the telecast details of the offending content and your reasons for feeling offended. For complaint form, visit http://www.ibfindia.com