The Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) on Wednesday directed Sony Entertainment Television to shift its show Pehredaar Piya Ki -- in news for its odd plot -- to a late-night slot, besides running it with a scroll stating that it does not promote the concept of child marriage. The story revolves around an 18-year-old girl marrying a nine-year-old boy. An online petition was moved for a ban on the TV show, which has been described as having "obnoxious and perverted" content that can "severely impact impressionable minds of children".
The makers have been defending it, saying viewers must understand the circumstances in which the girl has to marry the child.
On Wednesday, a BCCC official told IANS: "We had a monthly meeting and the channel officials were called for a discussion, which went on for quite long. After everything, they were directed that the timing of the show should be shifted to a late night slot of 10 p.m. and that they must run a disclaimer."They will have to comply."
The BCCC meeting was the first chaired by its new chief, Justice (retd) Vikramajit Sen.
Since the last BCCC meeting, the body received around 138 fresh complaints against "Pehredaar Piya Ki", which is produced by Shashi Sumeet Productions and went on air last month.
Earlier this week, Sumeet Mittal and Sakshi Mittal of Shashi Sumeet Productions, which backs the show, organised a press conference amid the hullabaloo over the content of Pehredaar Piya Ki, which shows a girl aged 18 married to a nine-year-old boy who used to click her photographs without getting noticed. Some episodes have been about them having a 'suhag raat' and even enjoying a honeymoon.
The producers said they are ready to give an explanation if needed to the concerned authority, even as an online petition as well as a Mumbai NGO have demanded a ban on the prime-time tele-serial.
(With IANS Inputs)
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