Top 6 Banned Films: India’s censorship mechanism has been infamous for repressing films against the grain of society, religious ideology, or having explicit material for as long as one can remember. While the majority of films ended up being proscribed from theatres, OTT gave them their second wind. Sensational films — once boycotted by cinemas — can now be accessed, and viewers get to watch mature and unapologetic material from the confines of their own homes.
The revolution on the internet has transformed the viewing behavior of audiences. Over-the-top players such as Netflix, Prime Video, Zee5, JioCinema, Disney+ Hotstar, and even YouTube have been refuge grounds for directors whose films were censored in India earlier. Streaming platforms, having eliminated the middle space of censorship, allow viewers to view numerous international and Indian films, posing questions and making one think without censorship.
Most Sensational Movies Streaming Now
Streaming on platforms: Netflix, JioCinema, Zee5
Forbidden to view when first released for being so glaringly erotic and for including BDSM sequences, Fifty Shades of Grey was a global news sensation. The fact that it is possible to stream online on OTT platforms makes viewers themselves capable of accessing and viewing this taboo love without having to see the film initially deemed too naughty for Indian cinema.
Platforms: Netflix, Zee5, Prime Video
This Dan Brown thriller series adaptation was condemned for its interpretation of religious history and so-called blasphemy, and Indian states prohibited the films. Nowadays, the audience is able to watch it for free and learn about its conspiracy regarding history.
Platforms: Prime Video, Zee5
Forbidden a theater release due to its graphic sex violence and bleak subject matter, this raw thriller gives viewers today an unedited, uncensored narrative full of mystery and brutal characters.
Platform: Netflix
An Indian independent film, Unfreedom, addresses controversial subjects such as religious extremism and homosexuality. Censored at the box office due to its subject matter, it now faces taboos on internet media.
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Platform: Netflix
Of all India’s gorest films, Gandu shook citizens with its explicit content and quirky storyline. Watching it now gives viewers an unusual opportunity to see its bloody storyline in all its unedited glory.
Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar and YouTube, respectively
Both films were politically and culturally sensitive. Parzania is a tragic story of communal violence, and Water is one of defying traditional norms regarding widows. Being online provokes passionate arguments regarding history and tradition.