Controversial TV show slot changed

Pehredaar Piya Ki was slammed for promoting child marriage BCCC has asked Sony channel to run a scroll during the show saying it does not promote child marriage and the show is a work of fiction

The Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) has directed Sony channel to move its daily soap Pehredaar Piya Ki to the 10 pm slot and run it with a scroll saying it does not promote child marriage.

In its meeting held on Wednesday, the council ordered the channel to shift the show to 10 pm, the restrictive hour on the small screen, from its current slot of 8.30 pm.

A scroll has to run saying that the show does not promote child marriage and is a work of fiction, said an official from the body. Wednesday’s meeting was the first chaired by BCCC’s new chief, Justice (retd) Vikramajit Sen.

The serial, which began airing last month, focuses on a nine-year-old boy, Ratan (Afaan Khan), and his marriage to 18-year-old Diya (Tejasswi Prakash).

By moving the time slot, the BCCC wants to ensure that minors are not able to see the show, Mr Sen told agencies. He added that that they ordered a scroll to be run since they did not want any misinterpretation that the show advocates child marriage. The channel remained unavailable for comment on the decision.

Pehredaar Piya Ki has been slammed on social media for its “regressive” content with many viewers accusing it of promoting child marriage. The TV ombudsman received close to 140 complaints last month from viewers demanding action against the show for promoting child marriage, an official said.

An online petition was also started asking the information and broadcasting ministry to ban the show. . BCCC was set up in 2011 by the Indian Broadcasting Foundation in consultation with the ministry. It has been tasked with implementing self-regulatory guidelines for “non-news general entertainment channels”, the website states.

As per IBF guidelines, BCCC is duty-bound to inform the ministry if channels don’t adhere to its decisions. The ministry will then decide on the future course of action. Sony may abide by its directive within a week, said a source.