Amazon Prime Video's recently released web series Paatal Lok took the OTT platform by storm with its gritty, dark and realistic content. Starring Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Abhishek Banerjee and Neeraj Kabi in the lead roles, the Anushka Sharma produced show is enjoying enormous success. However, the neo-noir series has landed into troubled waters after the members of the Gorkha community raised objection at a sexist slur in the second episode. Taking the matter forward, an online petition was initiated by the community on Monday addressing the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, Amazon Prime Video and Anushka.

The petition spoke about the issue of showing a woman from their community in poor light and also demanded that the slur is muted, the subtitle is blurred and an apology in form of a disclaimer is added. The Bhartiya Gorkha Yuva Parisangh particularly pointed out at the scene appearing at 3:41 minute in the second episode and strongly voiced out their disappointment regarding the racist behaviour towards the North-Eastern community and the term used to insult the character named Mary Lyngdoh, which is a common surname for the Khasi community from Meghalaya.

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Nanda Kirati Dewan, President of the Bhartiya Gorkha Yuva Parisangh, in a statement to media told that the term has been used in an unlikely and regressive manner which is unacceptable. "The word has been used in a filthy, regressive way… We shouldn’t and cannot consume anything that is stereotyping and targetting the community in the name of creative freedom and in pursuit of entertainment excellence,” Dewan told.

Members of the group further added that the use of such terms amid the Coronavirus crisis is adding to their existing troubles. "We have been fighting Corona racism. To add to our woes, this web series will incite not just racial but sexual slur and rape attempts at the women of our community. We strongly condemn it in toughest terms and seek immediate removal of the scene’s subtitles and mute the slur," the group added.

According to Mr. Dewan, the Bhartiya Gorkha Yuva Parisangh will approach the court if there is no response from the OTT platform or the makers of Paatal Lok in the next few days.

(Source: PTI)