iWorld
SC grants interim protection to Amazon Prime Video’s Aparna Purohit
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim protection from arrest to Amazon Prime Video's India originals head Aparna Purohit in the FIR registered by Uttar Pradesh police in connection with the web series, Tandav.
The court was hearing Purohit’s appeal challenging the Allahabad high court order which had denied her petition for an anticipatory bail in FIR filed in greater Noida, reported Bar & Bench. The protection was granted subject to the condition that she would cooperate with the investigation.
The top court also observed that the latest guidelines issued by the Centre to regulate the content on the over-the-top (OTT) platforms were insufficient. "We went through the technology intermediary guidelines. But there's no teeth. No power of prosecution. These are just guidelines. No mechanism to control it. Without legislation you cannot control it," the bench noted.
Solicitor general Tushar Mehta informed the court that the government will prepare a draft law and submit it before court for consideration.
Tandav, a nine-episode political thriller on Amazon Prime Video, landed in controversy after some Hindu groups accused the makers of hurting religious sentiments through certain scenes which allegedly mocked Hindu deity Shiva. This led to registering of FIRs in several cities, barely days after it was released on the OTT platform on 15 January. Amidst the furore, director Ali Abbas Zafar has already issued an unconditional apology on social media stating that the makers have utmost respect for the sentiments of the people of our country.
Amazon Prime Video too, on multiple occasions, has apologised to viewers whose sentiments were hurt by certain scenes in the show. Additionally, the objectionable scenes were either removed or edited, the company stated. “Amazon Prime Video again deeply regrets that viewers considered certain scenes to be objectionable in the recently launched fictional series Tandav. This was never our intention, and the scenes that were objected to were removed or edited when they were brought to our attention. We respect our viewers’ diverse beliefs and apologised unconditionally to anyone who felt hurt by these scenes,” the streamer said in a statement.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
