7 Reasons why Netflix dropped its subscription prices in India

Image courtesy – brand.netflix.com

Netflix, the American content streaming giant, on December 14, announced a major price drop in its subscription plans across board.

The biggest drop, that of 60% was made in rates of its basic plan from Rs. 499 to 199. Other plans such as the mobile-only (Rs. 199), standard (Rs. 649) and premium (Rs 799) were also reduced to Rs. 149, 499 and 649 respectively.

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But why did Netflix drop the prices? Though, it’s not first time that the streaming giant has cut prices in the country. The scope of the slash ranging across plans is what makes it intriguing.

Netflix India, Vice President (Content) Monika Shergill told PTI “The whole focus is on reaching our larger set of audiences out there, it’s a very organic expansion strategy…” Well, it may be. However, there is more to the story than just organic expansion.

Here are 7 possible reasons that might have played a role in the strategic policy shift :-

1. CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR & AFFORDABILITY

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One obvious reason certainly, is to increase its reach and general affordability among Indian consumers. Its earlier rates provided a monthly basic plan at Rs. 499, whereas its adversary Disney Hotstar offers the yearly basic plan at the exact same price. This pricing gap seemed to be making Netflix unpopular against its peers. Therefore, the move may very well be to abridge the looming rate gap.

Also, studies in the past have shown that Indians are more likely to use unpaid services like YouTube and Jio-cinema than watch paid content over streaming platforms. Therefore, for Netflix to grow in the country amid booming small platforms with modest rates, it had to amend its aggressive pricing policy.

2. UNTAPPED MARKET

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Netflix seems to be targeting country’s developing markets in tier II and tier III cities. According to a Times of India report, around 60% of current OTT users come from non-metro cities. Shergill, in an interview with livemint, also confirmed that the new rates were in line with their strategy to go deeper in the country.

In addition, India has more than 700 million smartphone users and about 825 million internet users, majority of which belong to semi-urban and rural areas. Out of this, Netflix has been able to woo only about 4.4 million people. It’s a vast but largely uncaptured market that the streaming platform has its eyes on.

3. COMPETITORS’ IMPACT

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The Indian OTT space is seeing a sustained boom in on-demand content platforms. The smaller players such as Zee5 and SonyLiv are effectively capitalising on their very moderate pricing strategies.

Moreover, the two apparent competitors – Amazon Prime and Disney Hotstar, have a larger foot in the Indian market with 19 million and 45 million subscribers respectively as against 4.4 million of Netflix.

It’s also hardly incidental that Netflix announced price drop, just the day after prime raised its yearly rate from Rs 999 to 1499. Grapevine also has it that Netflix is looking to bank upon Amazon’s customer annoyance after latter’s price raise.

4. VALUE FOR MONEY

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Speaking of competitors, both Amazon prime and Disney Hotstar offer greater value for money in tangible terms. The former provides simultaneous services in video streaming, prime music, library and one-day delivery services. While Disney Hotstar enjoys exclusive rights over sports broadcast. Therefore, to compete with the likes of these two, pricing policy seems first in line to undergo modifications.

5. MARKET SATURATION IN THE WEST

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The slow growth and near market saturation in the key western locations is also a reason why the media giant is looking at opportunities in the developing world.

Netflix is exploring incentive-based approach in markets such as India, Brazil, South Africa to increase its market share and hence compensate the ebbing growth in the western part. What makes India special, though, is the cheap Internet services available in the country unlike other developing markets.

6. THE 100M TARGET

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Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, at various occasions has opened-up that their long-term target for India is to reach about 100 million users. Currently, it has only 4.4 million active subscribers and the target is nowhere even close to realization. Therefore, a policy change was certainly called for, if the giant is keen to dress-up for the success.

7. TEST & TRY METHOD

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If nothing else, the new pricing strategy is part of the platform’s try and test method to see how the Indian market responds to the change. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in an interview with filmcompanion “What [we have] found out is that as good as you can be in one country, it tells you almost nothing about the next one…there’s a trial and error period that we’ve been deep in right now.”

All in all, there is more to the price drop than what meets the eye. Media giants like Netflix don’t make such a move in air. The reasons for the same may range from Indian consumer preferences, modest pricing strategies of adversaries, slow growth in west, market potential in tier II & III towns or what Ms. Shergill said, organic expansion strategy.

Whatever the reason may be, for Indians, ‘Netflix and chill’ just got real again.

5 Reasons why instead of travelling abroad, you should explore India first

Travelling is not just a hobby; it’s an essential human need. We have to travel every once in a while to feel rejuvenated, to charge up those dying brain cells, to get a break from our daily life and day to day routine and the list goes on and on. Travelling is fun but it can also be expensive. Exploring mountains, sunbath at a beach can feel amazing but can also be a little expensive. Travelling within one’s own country would mean lower costs and is the sensible thing to do when you haven’t explored your own country and that’s why I’m going to give you 5 reasons if you are an Indian, why you should explore India before you leave for the adventure to explore foreign lands:

1. Topography and Wildlife

For all Nature lovers, India has a huge diversity of landscapes. From Mountains to Hills to Desserts to Beaches, in India, you can get them all. India has a rich Biodiversity and it never fails to surprise you when it comes to Flora & Fauna. Indian wild forests and national parks are home to many species of wild animals, birds and reptiles. More than 25% land of Indian states are covered with dense forest and provide shelter to the wildlife. You can find some of the rarest animals in India like The royal Bengal tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Great Indian Rhino, The Asiatic Lion, Indian Leopard, Indian Gharial, Blackbuck, etc. India is an attraction for all the passionate bird watchers and wildlife photographers you’ll find birds like The Himalayan Monal, The Fire-tailed myzornis, The oriental dwarf Kingfisher, The Indian Peacock, The Indian Pitta, etc here only in India.

2. Food

Food is a good enough reason why you should travel and explore India. The taste, colour, spices of the food changes every 1000kms in India. Every state has its specialities and mouth-watering food delicacies. Nothing can compete with Indian food whether it be street food or Royal Mughlai cuisines whose recipes were passed down from generation to generation in the royal families. There is a reason that India is a leading manufacturer of spices and exports them all around the world. You can go anywhere in the world, the most developed and beautiful countries in the world but you won’t find the amazing taste that India has to offer. Even the comedian Vir Das agrees on the quality of food and said: “Once you go brown the other colours let you down”.

3. Accessibility

One of the biggest benefits of travelling in India is cheap and affordable transport. I would recommend the Indian railways if you want comfort and you are on a tight budget. Be it the Rail connectivity or the Buses, they all run very frequently and are pretty comfortable. You can cover the longest distance possible in India with a sleeper coach and I bet it won’t cost you more than 1500 Rs and with the second largest road network in the world, India is perfect for all those road trips that you’ve been drowning about.

4. Culture and Festivals

India truly is an example of Unity in Diversity. In India, you’ll find people of every religion. There are more than 120 languages being spoken throughout the different parts of the country. Music and dance is an essential part of our Indian society from folk to Bollywood music, you’ll find everything fascinating. Similarly, Indian dances are an important part of the culture and are a few of the most complex and expressive dance forms in the world. Dance forms like Kathakali, Bharatnatyam, Kathak are famous all around the world for their expressive nature. Festivals is a year-round thing in India. It adds colours and joy to everyone’s life. No matter which season you land up in India, Indians are always celebrating some festival or other. The celebrations and festivals are so grand that the memories it creates in one’s mind live for eternity.

5. Architecture

India is home to one of the oldest and most beautiful Architectural geniuses in the world. Architecture in India has evolved through countless centuries due to the influence of the various dynasties and civilizations that have flourished in India. The forts, Palaces and Temples in India are often characterized by some of the most striking architectural designs and display the artistic prowess of the Indian kingdoms and Dynasties and to top it all India has amazing structures like The Statue of Unity and The Taj Mahal. The Statue of Unity is a 182m tall majestic Statue of Indian legend Sardar Patel, it is the world’s highest statue and is located in the state of Gujarat, India. The Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. Built in 1648 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, The Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.

India is full of adventures and cultural shocks if one really wants to explore and that’s why you should first travel in India before starting to explore foreign countries. India has something to offer for everyone and that’s why India is the perfect travel destination for everyone.

-Sourabh Upreti

Cooking, An Important Life-skill For Everyone

Haritha Ravi

Dining out or ordering in is so convenient we often forget to take the time to cook.

It has been said that you are what you eat. What we take in and experience, both literally and figuratively, shapes who we are.

Have you noticed your habits change ever since the Pandemic started? Maybe you’re going out less and ordering with Swiggy or Zomato more?

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

Sounds about right. That’s because it’s super convenient! But you know what else is even more convenient? Knowing how to cook.

I’m not an expert chef by any means, but lately, I’ve been spending more time in the kitchen making new dishes that are far out of my comfort zone.

It brings me joy to eat food that I made. It also makes me very happy to see my family eat food that I prepare too.

Whether you’re living on your own or with your family, cooking is a top-tier skill that will last you a lifetime. 

Your Food Carries More Meaning

We go to Subway, stop by McDonald’s, or order some Domino’s Pizza from time to time, but the food is just food. It doesn’t hold a special place in our hearts the same way a nice home-cooked meal would.

Think about when you were younger, and your elders cooked meals for you. It was always reassuring to know that you not only had food on your table, but you had really delicious food.

When you take the time to prepare a meal yourself, it requires firstly, thinking about what you want to make. Secondly, going to the store and buying the ingredients. And finally, executing your meal in the kitchen.

The preparation involved with cooking may seem tedious and all, but by the end of it, you’ll feel accomplished. 

There’s no restaurant or fast food joint that will bring you the same fulfilment or sense of accomplishment the same way a nice home-cooked meal does.

Photo by Yan Krukov on Pexels.com

You’re In Charge of How Your Food Tastes

When you get your food delivered to you, there are times where they forget your fries or something’s a bit off. It’s not a good feeling because food is essential. Food is a big part of life.

Have you ever gotten food that was too salty or tasted bitter? The food no longer carries the same value as it would because something’s not right.

But when you get to start the stove at the temperature you like it, cook your food just the way you like it, and add your own little spin on it, that’s where the magic happens.

Not everyone in the world is as blessed as we are. Unlike them, we can go to the store, pick out literally any grocery item we want, and execute nearly any meal we feel like making.

Back in the stone age, do you think that cavemen and cavewomen had the choice to eat a delicious Rajma Chawal versus a Caesar Salad for those who were conscious about their diet? Probably not. We have such a huge advantage over most people.

In the kitchen, you’re in charge of your food, and you get to make the calls on every detail, down to the sauces, spices, and ingredients.

Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels.com

Cooking Can Be Your Creative Outlet

Most people have some creative outlet such as writing, making music, drawing, painting, basically anything out there. But not many people consider cooking an art. It is!

Food will be part of your life until the day you die. You’re going to need food to survive. That’s why it’s such a perfect creative outlet for literally anyone looking for something to do.

With cooking, you get the opportunity to craft your food just the way you like it, save money, and share it with those you love. 

With the Pandemic and all this extra time on our hands, we should make an effort to cook. The pandemic has made cooking a trend from Dalgona Coffee to the baked feta pasta many people have been trying their hand at cooking and you should too!! It’s simple, it’s fun and it makes you feel like you’re part of this bigger global community which is the reassurance many people need right now in this world.

Photo by Camila Muu00f1oz on Pexels.com

Why More People Should Cook

Gone are the days where it’s only the woman who cooks the meals. Men should be more involved in making food because it’s a sign of respect and admiration to cook. Cooking is a form of non-verbal communication, it shows the other person how much you care about them and love them. I mean there’s a reason they say that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. Thanks to the internet, we’re running out of excuses not to know things, but not knowing how to cook almost seems inexcusable. You can do it, though!

Visit This Most-Beautiful Fort in Jodhpur For FREE!

India – The mosaic of all things beautiful

India is a holy land of preserved culture and heritage that attracts the center of every travel enthusiast’s focus. The beauty is in abundance and there are plenty of places to visit. Reymond Page reflects, “Waking up in India is like waking up to life itself.” I endorse India as the best country to travel but it gets overwhelming at times. Because just imagine you are scrolling through Instagram. You stumble across a magnificent thread of travel pictures after a rough day at work. The traveler’s urge to explore and photograph grows on you. But you have no finances sorted. Right? This has happened umpteen times and I decided this has to stop.

Padharo Maahre Desh – Rajasthan Sirens You Home

Source: Google Images

I had to bring some solution to the perpetual concern regarding the trip cost. Hailing from Gujarat, one of the budget-friendly neighboring states that have always charmed me is Rajasthan. Standing north of Gujarat, the state is full of ‘aesthetically cultural’ corners of India. To start with one city out of nineteen that Rajasthan enfolds, I decided to visit Jodhpur. Now, tighten your seat belt because this article will navigate you around one beautiful travel destination in Jodhpur that you can visit for free. Then, even you can post the most regal pictures on your feed. (And a secret: This is the best place to twirl around making a reel on ‘Chaudhary’song!)

The Serene Blues of Jodhpur For Your Monday Skies

Jodhpur is the blue city of India. You will see blue all around you as if peace is hugging you tight. The city is named after Maharaja Rao Jodha and it is clad in all hues of hope. There lie no map rolls or binoculars to fetch the beauty of this magnificent city. It invites you to wander and lose yourself in the blue unknown. This is the beauty of it. It enfolds you in its magic and makes you sigh in awe. It demands you to load your camera roll and makes you forget about your unruly strands and clothes tucked in sans perfection. It is a feeling. A beautiful feeling in its entirety.

Strolling Through The Streets of Jodhpur

Source: Google Images

As you wander through the galliyaras of Jodhpur, you see reduced-to-bones aged men in white. The pleats of their orange turban smile happily at every traveler that passes by. A woman is doing Heer Bharat embroidery and knitting beads to life. A shopkeeper is flapping away dust from imported leather bags. A group of girls in red ribbons with a white shirt and a Prussian blue skirt are running to school. You gaze at everything that gives you the vibes of “Kesariya, vaahlam padharo maare desh.” After walking through these streets full of life and color, I landed at a fort of grandeur yet earthy – Mehrangarh Fort.

Unveiling The Treasures of Mehrangarh Fort

At the first glimpse of brown walls and yellow ochre patches with hues of whites, it will give you the possible cues of rich Indian Architecture. Situated on a hillock, the fort feels like a soldier standing high keeping an eye and protecting the city. Rightly named as “Citadel of Sun”, the capital of this territory was originally Mandore where the dynasty of Rathore ruled. While your eyes concur with the picturesque Chhatri of Kiran Singh, the gaze at the massive cream door of the fort leaves you stunned. The gate is famously known as ‘Jai Pol’ (meaning victory gate) to commemorate Raja Man Singh’s win over Jaipur Army.

The Walls of Fort Whisper of Valour

Walking closer, you will find the dents of cannon attacks on Dodh Kangra Pol, stunning iron spikes, and colors of puppetry.

Highlights:

  • You will hear folk songs adding to the melodies of Loha Gate, intended to slow the army.
  • A step ahead, you will discover an orange block of handprints of Maharaja Ajit Singh’s five queens who performed Jauhar (Sati).
  • The Loha Gate opens to the Sringar Chowk that plays Holi with contrasting colors, intricate carvings, and architecture.
  • To the left, you find an exquisite white marble throne believed to be instituted for the coronation ceremony of Rajas.

Dark Stories Behind Majestic Shades of Bright

Source: Google Images

Adding to the scenic beauty of the fort, there lies a small house of a hermit named Cheeriya Nathji (Lord of Birds). When Maharana Rao Jodha decided to build a fort on the hillock – Bhaurcheeriya (The mountain of birds), the hermit got angry and cursed the king that the land would always suffer from drought. As the curse could not be spelled back, a resident of Jodhpur sacrificed his life to amend the effects of the curse. Later, a small house near the cave was given to calm the hermit. The walls of the fort unravel many dark secrets and the camouflage doorways will surely confuse the fragments of your astonishment.

To the Best Sea of Blue I Have Ever Seen!

Source: Google Images

Once you stand on the peak of Mehrangarh Fort with your acoustic playlist tuning in, you feel magical. Like you have just returned after triumphing victory and now you are on the top of the world. As I laid my eyes on the city from the top, I wondered what led the city bled blue. Is it because blue signifies serenity and calm and that is exactly how you feel standing 120 feet high? Because the sun soars high here and the color blue keeps the city cool? Or it represents Lord Shiva as the city is home to many Brahmins? The city welcomes your interpretations and compels you to navigate your bits in search of the blue it embodies.

The shining eyes of locals sparkle every bit of your existence

Apart from the beauty of the fort, you get mesmerized by seeing the hospitality of locals. You ask them a question and their eyes will shine. Their smiles are embedded with white and the pleasant language gives you answers you always sought. The nightlife here held my breath with tents shining with bonfires and Banjarans walking through the city. The camels are clad in glitter shawl and golden lights glimmer your eyes. The bazaars exhibit the dance of Ghoomar as water of Ranisar Lake ripples. And there you are with a kuldi of hot coffee with jalebi in your hand. It feels like life has come to life. I truly lived that Reymond Page once felt.

This was a pocket-friendly travel suggestion in India my side. Let me know such destinations in the comments below, the ones that take away your heart for a fleeting moment.

Thank you.

– Khushi Thakkar

Martyrs of Marriage;

– Neha Mantripragada

The documentary, “Martyrs of Marriage” by Deepika Bhardwaj, who is an Indian journalist and a men’s rights activist addresses the misuse of Section 498A in the Indian Penal Code. This documentary reveals that the law which had been formed to protect the women from mistreatment and harassment by her spouse or relatives, has instead been misused by the woman to settle her personal scores by framing her husband and his family. The law was originally made to ensure that the women are protected from cruelty and disagreeable customs like dowry. Instead now, men are being subjected to unfair claims of harassment with no way to revert back since the law is cognizable, non-compoundable and non-bailable.

The documentary focuses on stories of men who seem to fight a war they were doomed to lose. As soon as a woman files a complaint under this section, the man becomes the culprit. Innocent until proven guilty only seems to be practiced on paper and not in reality. With data shared in the documentary which clearly showcases the rising amount of false cases filed, it is even more baffling to learn how several women rights activists and committees are unwilling
to amend the law to make it gender neutral and are appeased to keep the scale tilted.

The law and the court’s decisions in any case must be impartial according to what Lady Justice symbolizes. But in reality The Court isn’t blindfolded and clearly distinguishes the abuser and the victim as a man and a woman respectively. The extent of humiliation and face loss the accused and his family goes through during this intensive period of court and media trial can never be regressed. They are ‘Martyrs’ not only in the literal sense as many sacrifice their lives just to stop the injustice meted to them and their family. But also because those who’ve managed to prove themselves innocent are hardly left with a false sense of victory and cannot be compensated for the irrevocable loss of their dignity and respect during the course of the trial.

The documentary helps you culminate your views on the issue by sharing with us the stories of such victims who have been disposed to the misuse of this law. Watch the documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKRAkw5RUdw

Martyrs of Marriage

Imagine, you just witness a cold blooded murder at the cross roads or hear about a rape incident in the neighbourhood or a pickpocket robs you off your wallet carrying a fine amount of money. Now, what would you do in these conditions? Dial the 3 digit number that gets you in contact with caretakers of law, right? The police. That comes out of belief. The belief that the police will work according to the law, that the law will provide justice to the victim or his/her relatives by punishing the criminals, that the law is supreme and is made for peaceful existence of the community.

Fine, let’s take a look at another situation. Marriage. It is a celebration of love, happiness and bonding of two hearts. People dream of getting married to their perfect one, getting settled, have kids and live a complete satisfactory life. Imagine, things suddenly start going wayward. You get dragged into the court for an offence you have not committed. You spend your entire life proving your innocence which does not get you justice. All this after your marriage. Horrifying, isn’t it?

But why am I talking about all this random stuff, law and marriage? Well there is something that connects them. 498A. No, not a code for some thrilling treasure hunt game. In fact, it is a section in the Indian Penal Code (IPC). I won’t be wrong if say a ‘disputed’ section of the IPC. The section makes it punishable by law if the husband or any relative of the husband subjects the wife to cruelty, i.e. inflicts physical and mental torture on her for getting their unlawful demand of property and valuable security fulfilled. Basically, it is a law that was introduced in 1983 to protect women from the post-marriage atrocities they have to face. But how that law for protection of women has become a danger for men is something that needs be looked into.

The documentary Martyrs of Marriage by the renowned Indian journalist and documentary film-maker shines the torch on injustices perpetrated by the misuse of Section 498A.

Using first person accounts of those who have suffered, it delves into the problem and highlights how men too can be victims in a marriage. The implication is frightful when one after another, victims of this law pour out their heart on how they were put behind bars without as much as being heard. These laws have resulted in the arrest of grandmothers, grandfathers, and toddlers alike, who are then subjected to extortion by their tormentor, who promises to withdraw the charges if sufficient money is paid. Many of the targeted husbands are driven to suicide when they face the hopeless tangle of laws and excessive demands of their wives. Recalling the entire tale only breaks the hearts of the victim’s parents, sisters , brothers and other relatives. They have borne it all- from being harassed by the police, getting imprisoned to losing their beloved to suicide because of the frustration that legal procedures bring with them. Instances where the wife named the husband’s sister in her complaint, when in fact the sister resided at her in-laws’ home, are reported too. Indeed, even the mothers were not spared; elderly women who barely appear capable of walking straight were accused of cruelly treating the daughter-in-law.

Many of the highly placed judges and lawyers interviewed acknowledge that the abuse of Dowry laws is rampant and that the law needs to change, but the film also reveals that the feminist activists have absolutely no concern for the total destruction of the families entrapped by the Dowry Laws, and even less for the loss of so many male lives.

This film boldly represents the atrocities that men have to go through and how they haunt their life. If you are someone who stands for justice, then this is a must watch for you. Find the link to watch the documentary below.

Link to watch the documentary- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKRAkw5RUdw

Source of image- Google images

  • By Nishil B.

Martyrs of Marriage – a revelatory account

By – Yana Kalal

When Joe Rogan in his comedy special said “one thing I don’t understand is ‘men’s rights movement’, I mean fellas you already got all rights”. I didn’t find it funny unlike my sibling sitting next to me. When we were watching this special six months ago, I didn’t exactly realize what was wrong with the joke besides being frivolous and insensitive. It was only when I watched the documentary film ‘Martyrs of marriage’, did I understand everything that was wrong with this and many other jokes we happen to laugh at, keeping our blazing ignorance intact. It simply begins with the abject denial that the problem exists in the first place.

 
The film ‘Martyrs of marriage’ directed by Deepika Bharadwaj is a revelatory account of wanton misuse of the article 498 A of IPC, better known as the ‘Dowry Prohibition Act’. The well-intentioned law was first brought in 1961 and later amended in 1983 (making it cognizible, non-bailable and non-compoundable) to safeguard women who were ill-treated by their husbands and in-laws after marriage in demand of Dowry. 

Simply put, by “virtue” of this law, a man and his family can be put behind bars on the sole testimony of his wife alleging mistreatment without any evidence or investigation whatsoever and shall not be granted bail unless the court orders otherwise.


The law, thus has become a weapon in hands of ‘not so well-intentioned’ women seeking either an easy exit out of the marriage or settling past scores. The film documents abuse of legal remedies, rot in systemic operations and more than anything, devastation of families. It’s a living tale of those dead who could have been saved only if our judicial system had paid more attention.

 


The blog might come across as a rant because it perhaps is, one doesn’t ask for more but an equal chance to be heard. And when even that is denied, the judiciary fails to uphold it’s very fundamentals i.e. ‘equality before law’.

So much has been lost but so much (read “many”) could still be saved. It seems as if in empowering one gender, we are condemning the other. I hereby pass my submissions for the same-old pleas of gender-neutral laws and a fit punishment for bogus and malicious cases. It would have helped only if somebody was actually listening (or reading). The symbolic ‘lady of justice’ may be blind, the laws need not be.
As for Joe Rogan, we can perhaps discount him for not knowing Indian laws. 

Note – The hyperlink to view the documentary film has been provided above

Sources:-

Picture 1 – https://images.app.goo.gl/rALwXC9M2SV5Aebf9

Picture 2 –
https://images.app.goo.gl/SorHNd82R1qpogte9

Martyrs of Marriage!!

By- Aditi

you ever wonder what will happen if your savior becomes Satan himself, I guess no one does and nor did the people who suffered through the misuse of section 498A.

I didn’t knew about the destructive side of section 498A and in that blurred lack of knowledge I came across “martyrs of marriage” and had a chance to watch it a few days ago, it was definitely an eye-opening experience.

And I would like to suggest this documentary to everyone to go through, it is gut-wrenching and it will leave so many questions that have no answers.

This documentary talks about people who are abusing this section in the name of justice and for their vile purpose, it talks about the lost souls and their families who went through so much mental trauma and then too fighting for their self respect for years.

This documentary showcases section 498A, the section which was meant to be a anti dowry law and to stop abuse, it itself turned into a powerful tool to abuse people and ruin their lives.

Why should everyone needs to watch this?

first and foremost for awareness, if everyone is aware about how things go down out of nowhere they know how to act accordingly.

it talks about how just by gender biases people are ruining entire families, it shows you the realities and how the judgements people tend to act on without checking the facts, it points out how we as a society are ignorant of such big issue.

this documentary talks about how women are using “victim” cards and harassing innocent men, how money has become more important than the lives of innocent people and the justice system being ignorant of the situations that have been created by the misuse of this law.

it is a feature length documentary film which is directed and produced by incredible Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, this documentary talks about the injustice that has been perpetrated on people because of section 498A.

you can watch it on Deepika Narayan’s official youtube channel, it is available both in Hindi and English.

This documentary should be shared as much as possible.

Martyrs of Marriage – Not a cry for sympathy but for equal rights to Justice

By Sharat Pillai

Martyrs of Marriage is a gut wrenching account of the abysmal misuse of Section 498A (A law that protects women from physical and mental trauma in marriage) in the Indian Penal Code against Men. It talks about the trauma that men have to face as a result of a partisan law that has been prevalent in the Indian Judicial system since 1983 and how men despite being innocent in most cases find it extremely difficult to share their side of the story to this day and bereave themselves from the uncalled harm that they have been subjected to while the system finds itself helpless to rise to the occasion and provide a level-playing ground to men. The poster of the film is a face of a male mannequin decked up in a turban usually seen in Indian marriages and it is symbolic of the way men are treated in marital disputes in the country – as a commodity, a punching bag, a defacto villain. The film also reveals as to how not only the husband in a marriage but his entire family, distant relatives, new-born nephews or even ailing grandmothers can be subjected to trauma just on the behest of an accusation from the wife. There are a myriad of societal issues that have been hampering the social fabric of India which have been prevalent for decades, if not more and we as a society are slowly and steadily fighting up our way against it however the misuse of 498A is particularly an important issue to take note of because it is entirely birthed out of a biased, sexist and an arbitrary law. It is something that could have been avoided or made fairer, if the lawmakers in the country back in the 80s did not fall prey to woke activism and resort to piecemeal settlements.

It’s no fiction that a large section of women in India are subjected to domestic violence which is sickening and 498A does provide justice to the deserving and genuine cases and therefore it is a much needed law. Domestic violence is a very serious issue and it must be dealt with the utmost sensitivity and all the women who have been subjected to such trauma should get justice and the perpetrators should be punished accordingly if proven but that does not mean that you introduce a law which is biased and sexist in its formation itself. You cannot vilify a male and his family just on the basis of accusations of a female without any evidence. This law is a testament to the deeply sexist mindset of the Indian judicial system and society itself. If there is no level-playing ground then how can there be justice and even if there is one the process of attaining it itself impairs the man from his career, time, money and respect and by the end of which all he has is a tainted moral character and a good for nothing acquittal to show to society. The number of 498A cases have only increased in the past few years however a staggering 85% cases have been proved to be fake. This law seriously needs to be looked at and reviewed because if 85% cases are fake, then somehow the genuine cases are not getting the timely attention and the law is only being used as a legal sword by women who want to take some sort of a revenge for their failed marriages for whatever reason that may be. From the time the documentary was released in 2016 to now, there have been several positive re-enforcements made by the Supreme Court and eminent lawyers of the country have advocated for this law to be made gender neutral which is a positive sign but any kind of neutrality in the law itself is still a distant reality. Also several avenues of society and culture have still been found to be promoting misandry like Media, Films & TV Serials, Pseudo Feminists, etc. due to which the public perception of men still to this day remains that of a default villain and that is where the role of luminaries like Deepika Bhardwaj gets all the more important because despite being a woman, she understands the pain that many innocent married men go through in this country. We should only embrace and facilitate people like Deepika who have been doing such phenomenal work.

Image 1 Source – https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-misuse-of-dowry-laws-takes-new-turn-2549561

Image 2 Source & YouTube link to documentary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKRAkw5RUdw

“A Man doesn’t lie while dying.”

-By Rahul Kayarat

And that’s how this documentary piece reels you in with a gut punching story and visual of a man’s final tears of ensuing death. A step chosen by him to end it all. That is how this documentary begins. With the end of someone else’s story, their battle. Not 5 minutes in and you are enthralled to know more. And the rest 68 minutes are followed by a deep understanding and eye opening narrative of the Martyrs of Marriage, victims of false 498A cases.

Dictionary definitions of the words "Martyr" and "Marriage".
Still from “Martyrs of Marriage” by Deepika Bharadwaj (click on the image to watch the documentary)

498A is a provision which was laid out with obvious good intent on the society and the people inhabited, as all laws are meant to do, by abolishing unlawful demand of dowry and bring to justice the act of harassment on or towards the wife in a marriage, by either the husband or his family or both. Fairly after the ruling of the provision a lot of good came to the women of the country. Where this went sour is the blatant inequality seen in the words penned in the amendment itself. What was realized by some is how this law and the small loophole this law contains can be used to get a crutch out of others to milk out something without which nothing in the country runs, money.

Queue the families of Makhdoom, Avadesh and Manoj Kumar, who tell the tales of these martyrs who succumbed to injustice by falsely being accused of 498A. Them and their families, who thought bringing a woman home in the ritual of holy matrimony would put smiles all around, she not only stripped them off that happiness, but also took with them their dignity, pride and a life that will never be gained back. Seeing their families suffer because of a problem they thought they invited lead them to take the extreme step no human should be forced to go through, just to clear their name off some charge sheet and give an escape to their families, which as a matter of fact was the last wish in the notes few of them left. Is the cost of breaking free from the chains of stigma and depreciation from the society for something a person didn’t even do an actual life?

Yes, 498A drives the accused and the families crazy because it is written to be a cognizable, non bailable and non compoundable offence. What’s crazier is that it can be complained against an ‘n’ number of people, and no investigation ensues whatsoever, meaning it is of law that the woman’s verbal statement is to be taken as evidence of 100% credibility and the accused, no matter if there’s 20 of them or if one of them is a 8 month old child (yes, a real world example mentioned in the documentary) are to be immediately arrested. Some cases even include people living overseas being accused of daily abuse, people who haven’t stepped in the country for years.

Now, how can something related to a false accusation be talked about without including lawyers and the judicial system? The documentary mentions the whole 498A false cases scheme as a provision turned into a racket. It is something which the lawyers defending for the women are very much in on for a quick share of the money received. The “racket” is not that hard to understand. Petty cases which occur between married couple, sometimes even related to the woman’s in laws, turn into a 498A case. They usually go this route thinking this would end their problems as they have leverage now, but it quickly turns into an unwanted divorce. Things like greed and lawyers putting things into their minds turns things into an actual lawsuit, one which proceeds to rot the relationship even further but harm the man and his family even more so.

Shot by Mansi Thapliyal for BBC

As it is clear from the stories of people like Chandan Mukherjee, Hussein Ali, Chetan S Kanu and Partha, not only are these false allegations a crack in the married life of a person, it takes away their reputation, dignity and credibility as an individual in the eyes of the society, especially in front of such a hive minded one which we happen to live in. This in turn affects the quality of life and opportunities given to them. If one, after such allegations chooses to be brave and fight them to prove his innocence, then he’s looking at least at 10 or more years of his life being scrutinized due to the constant visits to police stations and court houses, and of course the delay in the case getting picked up by the system to be heard. That is the sad truth of the Indian Judicial System. Chetan who actively fought his truth after a false 498A after 14 years of marriage faces trouble finding work even after being a reputed scientist. On the other hand is Chandan, who lost the rights to see his son whom he got the chance to love and caress only gor a few months. Not to forget the humiliation faced by the likes of him and Partha, being picked up by police officials in front of their families, neighbors and colleagues, and being roughly interrogated in a demeaning way, pushed into a cell with people who are probably murderers.

One of the even worse negatives of these cases is that neither party can get remarried till the cases are cleared off their names. Even though a man has enough evidence to prove his innocence, who’s going to listen to him once a woman says he’s a bad person? That’s how systematically weak this provision stands. After being trapped, there is no way left for him to escape other than to comply with the demands of the woman. As a lawyer part of the documentary who has had experience dealing with these cases states, there hasn’t been a single case in their whole career where they saw the case being settled without some sort of agreement where money is exchanged. A man has to bear all the loss one way or the other.

Other than taking us on a ride through the hardcore reality of a law misused, where people end up losing lives because of the mental exhaustion and toll on them and their families, the director and producer of the documentary, Ms. Deepika Narayan Bharadwaj, who is an Independent Journalist and a Documentary Filmmaker, throws at us hardcore statistics and a load of other issues persisting men rights, some including how there is no law for paternity fraud and how a married woman cannot be tried for Adultery (IPC 497). There exist no laws that protect a man from marital abuse, which in grounded reality, very much exists. It throws a light on the false rape cases, on how as harassment is bailable, the alleged victims file for a fake rape case over the father-in-laws, destroying even the smallest of reputation they have left in the society. Delhi Commision for Women published a report in 2014 stating about 53% of the rapes reported in the city in the year prior were flagged as “false” at a later point.

Rape Cases Statistics by Rukmini Shrinivasan for The Hindu (2013) (Source: BBC.com)

This eye opening documentary, which ran on Netflix for 2 years, brings awareness to an important issue, which needs to be talked about more and found a solution for within gender neutral grounds, without making it about “men vs. women”. You will not realize the 1hr23mins of your life pass by as you’re sucked into the core of the unseen and unheard issues that happen right in front of us every day without us realizing until it affects us or one of our loved ones. If you don’t believe my words, feel free to check out the comments section on the YouTube upload of this documentary where hundreds have written their pieces of life and how they or their relatives are going through the grinders of fake 498A allegations. The comment section will prove to you a side of “MeToo’s” that are under looked by everyone because they are categorized into the gender that is male.

You can watch Deepika Bharadwaj’s Martyrs of Marriage here –