These reports are case summaries of complaints which appeared to raise issues of substance in relation to the interpretation of the ITC Programme Code. Summary statistics of non-substantive complaints can be found in the full reports which are obtainable from the ITC.
Showing Complaints & Interventions Report for BAGGHI
Channel: Zee TV
Date & time: Thursday 22 May: 4.00pm
Category: Violence
Complaint from: 1 viewer
Background
Zee Cinema is a subscription channel showing mainly Bollywood films. The hero falls in love with a girl who comes to the big city to seek her fortune. Unfortunately she finds herself held prisoner in a brothel. The hero rescues her, after a bloody fight with the gang controlling the brothel.
Issue
A viewer was concerned about the amount of violence in this film, shown at a time when many children are watching television.
Assessment
Zee TV explained that this was a popular film and a special version had been prepared for daytime viewing. Unfortunately the wrong version was shown, which was not edited sufficiently for an afternoon slot. The licensee apologised for the mistake and had taken steps to prevent any recurrence.
The ITC welcomed the licensee's action. However, the film had contained some violent scenes. These had included hitting a woman and setting her alight with petrol, as well as a fight with a razor resulting in some graphic shots of injuries. Even taking into account the stylised form of this film genre, this version was not suitable for transmission at this time of day.
Conclusion
The ITC concluded that the film was in breach of Section 1.2 (Family Viewing and the Watershed) of the ITC Programme Code.
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