iWorld
Govt cracks down on ‘obscene’ OTTs, blocks 25 sites under IT Act
MUMBAI: The Indian government has turned up the heat on shady OTT platforms. In a sweeping regulatory crackdown, the ministry of information & broadcasting (MIB) has ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to 25 websites accused of hosting unlawful and “obscene” content, invoking multiple sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and allied rules.
The directive, signed by the ministry’s joint secretary and authorised officer acting as nodal officer under digital media law, targets platforms such as Ullu, Altt, Big Shots, MoodX, Mojflix, Hulchul, and Desiflix — notorious for pushing the boundaries of online content. The move expands last year’s clampdown on what the government termed “indecent representation of women” and content harmful to public decency and morality.
The notification reminds intermediaries that under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, they lose their safe harbour protections if they fail to act swiftly on government orders. Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, further bars platforms from hosting anything that undermines India’s sovereignty, public order, or morality. Non-compliance, as per Rule 7, invites prosecution under prevailing laws.
The list of banned apps and sites reads like a roll-call of India’s risqué OTT underbelly: Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Kangan App, Bull App, Feneo, ShowX, HotX VIP, NeonX VIP, Triflicks and more.
The government cited violations of Section 67 and 67A of the IT Act (which deal with electronic transmission of obscene material), Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (obscene acts and songs), and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
The MIB has also asked the department of telecommunications (DoT) to ensure ISPs comply. The move is being positioned as part of India’s broader push to clean up its digital content ecosystem and hold digital intermediaries accountable.
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iWorld
Anirudh Ravichander and Universal Music India join forces to take South India’s sound to the world
The composer behind 13 billion streams launches Albuquerque Records with UMI as its exclusive global partner
MUMBAI: Universal Music India has struck an exclusive partnership with Albuquerque Records, the freshly minted independent label of singer-composer Anirudh Ravichander, in a deal that bets big on South India’s booming pop and hip-hop scene going global.
The arrangement, announced on 17 March, will see Universal Music India handle future pop and hip-hop releases by Anirudh himself, as well as artists signed to the new label. A first release is already in the pipeline for April, featuring Anirudh.
The numbers behind the man are hard to ignore. Debuting in 2012 with the viral sensation “Why This Kolaveri Di”, Anirudh has since clocked over 13 billion audio streams across more than 770 tracks, cementing his position as the No.1 South Indian artist on Spotify by total streams. His fingerprints are all over some of the Tamil film industry’s biggest musical moments, from Hukum and Vaathi Coming to Arabic Kuthu and the A23 Theme.
But Albuquerque Records is a different beast. Built for the non-film space, it is designed to nurture independent talent and champion the next wave of Indian pop voices. “Universal Music India’s leadership in pop and hip-hop made them the natural partner,” said Anirudh. “I’m excited to take independent voices to audiences around the world.”
Universal Music India’s chairman and CEO Devraj Sanyal was equally effusive. “Anirudh represents the future of Indian music, bold, original, and with enormous potential,” he said. “Identifying transformative talent is our superpower, and this partnership reflects that belief.”
Sanujeet Bhujabal, managing director of Universal Music India, framed the deal as more than a distribution play. “Albuquerque Records represents Anirudh’s bold artistic vision in the world of pop and hip-hop,” he said. “True to his legacy of innovation, this partnership is set to establish yet another landmark creative space, this time for the emerging world of iPop and beyond.”
For Universal Music India, the deal deepens a long-running push into South India’s four key language markets: Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu. The label already has regional imprints, film partnerships with Maddock Films and Excel Entertainment, and a growing non-film roster. Landing Anirudh, arguably the south’s most bankable music brand, is a statement of intent. South Indian music has the streams. Now it is coming for the world.
