Bombay Begums in trouble as NCPCR sends notice to Netflix to STOP streaming the show

Bombay Begums has landed in controversy merely days after its release. The web series dropped in on March 8 on Netflix and has attracted trouble. According to reports in The Hindu, the NCPCR has ordered Netlfix to stop the streaming of Bombay Begums. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which is the apex child rights body in India, has issued a notice to Netflix.

In the notice issued to Netflix on Thursday, the NCPCR has cited the ‘wrongful’ depiction of children in Bombay Begums. NCPCR has asked the OTT streaming to furnish a detailed action report within 24 hours, failing to which, it will be constrained to initiate appropriate legal action. The Commission has asked Netflix to stop streaming Bombay Begums citing inappropriate portrayal of children.

Protesting the alleged wrongful depiction of children in Bombay Begums, NCPCR said that such content will not only pollute the young minds but may also result in the abuse and exploitation of children.

The child rights body has taken stern exception to a minor being shown taking cocaine at a party in a scene in the show. The NCPCR received complaints from two Twitter handles, following which the notice was issued. The NCPCR has sent a two-page notice to Netflix regarding the alleged controversy of Bombay Begums. In the notice, the Commission states “from normalization casual sex by minors, web series are now normalising the use of drugs”.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights taken cognizance of a scene in Bombay Begums where minors are shown taking pictures of their ‘developed body parts’ and send them to another classmate. “…series with this kind of content will not only pollute the young minds of the children, and may also lead to abuse and exploitation of children in the hands of perpetrators/ offenders(sic),” the NCPCR notice to Netflix states.

“Netflix should take extra precaution while streaming any content in respect of the children or for the children and shall also refrain themselves from getting into such things,” the notice adds.

This comes soon after Saif Ali Khan starrer web show ‘Tandav’ was charged with ‘ridiculing Hindu Gods and Goddesses.’ The makers of Tandav were forced to edit the scenes following a major backlash.

Bombay Begums stars Pooja Bhatt, Shahana Goswami, Plabita Borthakur, Amruta Subhash, Aadhya Anand, Rahul Bose, Vivek Gomber, Danish Husain, and Nauheed Cyrusi. The show revolves around the lives of five women from different sections of society who desire different things in life.

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