IBF's DMCRC dismisses complaint against Disney+ Hotstar's web series 'Grahan'
The council received a complaint that the show and the trailer disrespected Sikhs by making it look like one was engaged in the anti-Sikh Riots of 1984
The complainant alleged that the trailer and the plot, as clearly decipherable from the trailer is an artwork of a sinister mindset aimed at setting a false narrative of the 1984 anti-Sikh genocide. The makers of the show have attempted to show that a Turbaned/Sikh man had been involved in looting and arson which shows a deliberate attempt to hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
“The Council is of the unanimous opinion that it is unreasonable to judge such a long series, whose total length runs into a few hours over eight episodes, on the basis of a TRAILER that runs for 2 minutes and 24 seconds. A TRAILER is specifically meant to generate curiosity, and in the present instance, it does that – create a sense of intrigue and mystery about the story that would unfold," the DMCRC said in its order.
The DMCRC also stated that no community has been portrayed in a denigrating manner or in a bad light in the TRAILER. Moreover, there is no allusion or assumption of a Sikh person trying to engineer the riots as alleged by the appellants.
The council was also of the unanimous view that any artistic or creative work has to be viewed holistically to determine whether it is objectionable or offensive. "The council is of the unanimous opinion that the TRAILER is within the framework of the law and therefore, the Appeal is not maintainable. The Appeal is without merit and is dismissed.”
The DMCRC is chaired by Retired Justice Vikramjit Sen with filmmaker Nikkhil Advani, TV producer Deepak Dhar, writer, actor and director Tigmanshu Dhulia, artist, writer and filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, EVP and General Counsel of Sony Pictures Networks India Ashok Nambissan, and Chief Regional Counsel of Disney and Star India Mihir Rale as its members.
