Relatable language, believable bodies: What underpins the popularity of adult content on Indian OTT platforms Beginning with ALTBalaji’s Gandii Baat (2018) to Kavita Bhabhi (2020) on Ullu, erotic content on homegrown OTT platform deserves attention for its sensibilities. Manik Sharma January 16, 2021 13:53:44 IST A promotional still for Ullu s Kavita Bhabhi
Last July, a report indicated that streaming services in India had seen a significant surge in viewership, mainly through consumption of adult/explicit content, amid the coronavirus crisis and nationwide lockdown. A subsequent
Inc42survey that looked at the performance of Indian OTT platforms offering erotic content The Cinema Dosti, Feneo Movies, Fliz Movies, GupChup, PrimeFlix, Hotshots and KooKu, among others found these websites witnessed increased traffic from March 2020 onwards, in some
linkedin Various local OTT platforms (such as ALT Balaji and MX player) in India boast high viewership figures for mature content a genre that is witnessing heavy investment and is slated to grow further. In a society that has historically shied away from overt or explicit depictions of sex, is the growth in easily accessible adult content a sign of normalising conversations around sex, or a further reinforcement of regressive gender norms? Does it indicate sexual liberation or a double-down on taboos? Has the male gaze shifted at all? The kind of content we see and consume not only mirrors where we are currently but also reveals strong social undercurrents, which serve as a guide to gradual shifts in thinking and behaviour. Popular forms of media are often used to help predict the nature as well as the pace of change.
linkedin
Various local OTT platforms (such as ALT Balaji and MX player) in India boast high viewership figures for mature content a genre that is witnessing heavy investment and is slated to grow further. In a society that has historically shied away from overt or explicit depictions of sex, is the growth in easily accessible adult content a sign of normalising conversations around sex, or a further reinforcement of regressive gender norms? Does it indicate sexual liberation or a double-down on taboos? Has the male gaze shifted at all?
The kind of content we see and consume not only mirrors where we are currently but also reveals strong social undercurrents, which serve as a guide to gradual shifts in thinking and behaviour. Popular forms of media are often used to help predict the nature as well as the pace of change.