iWorld
Defence ministry says armed forces-themed movies, shows need its NoC
MUMBAI: Censorship by any external regulatory body is something streamers and viewers in India are averse to. But there is at least in one area where they might have to yield to clipping scissors: how they depict the defence and armed forces in their shows and films. The Indian ministry of defence (MoD) has written to the Central Board of Film Certification directing production houses to get the former’s clearance for any show the story line of which features the armed forces or is themed around them before putting it out for viewing to the public.
The letter – signed by the MoD’s undersecretary of state Sudershan Kumar additionally to the MeiTV and the I&B ministry – states that some “shows and films are distorting the image of the Indian army….they may also be advised to ensure that any incident which distorts the image of defence forces or hurts their sentiments may be prevented.”
The MoD letter makes special reference to the depiction of “Indian army personnel and military uniform in a distorted manner in “XXX – Uncensored Season 2” and urges producers to acquire a no objection certificate from it before releasing shows on the defence on their platforms.
XXX Uncensored Season 2 is available on ALT Balaji and has been facing protests from certain groups for the manner in which a woman character forces “a man to wear the Indian Army uniform, which has the national emblem on its flaps, and then tearing it.”
The MoD says it too has received several complaints.
iWorld
Prime Video unveils trailer for Tamil series Exam, streaming May 15
Dushara Vijayan, Aditi Balan headline scam thriller set in exam world
CHENNAI: Prime Video has dropped the official trailer of its upcoming Tamil Original series Exam, a high-stakes suspense drama set in the murky world of competitive entrance exams.
Backed by creative producers Pushkar and Gayatri under Wallwatcher Films, the seven-episode series is written and directed by National Award-winner A. Sarkunam. It stars Dushara Vijayan and Aditi Balan in lead roles, with Abbas playing a pivotal character.
Set in the fictional town of Thykara, the series follows Jhansi, played by Dushara Vijayan, as she attempts to expose a deep-rooted scam, aided by her mentor Jayachandran, played by Abbas. Standing in her way is DSP Maramalli, portrayed by Aditi Balan, setting up a tense face-off driven by ambition, pressure and moral choices.
The show will stream from May 15 on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories. It will be available in Tamil, with dubbed versions in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada, along with subtitles in 15 languages.
Writer-director A. Sarkunam said the story aims to resonate across geographies and social strata, going beyond the scam to explore ambition, pressure and the consequences of personal choices. He added that the narrative unfolds through the intersecting journeys of Jhansi and Maramalli, building tension as their worlds collide.
Dushara Vijayan described Jhansi as a fierce and determined character, calling the role both demanding and rewarding, with the story capturing the difficult choices her character must make.
Aditi Balan said the series offers a hard-hitting look at the exam ecosystem, adding that her character is layered and shaped by both internal conflict and external pressures.
Abbas, marking his return to mainstream Tamil entertainment, said the series stands out for its layered storytelling and unpredictable twists, with his character adding depth to the central narrative.
With its mix of suspense, social commentary and character-driven storytelling, Exam is shaping up to be a tense watch as it dives into one of India’s most high-pressure systems.
