Twins Raghu and Rajiv denounce idea of web censorship

Mumbai, Aug 30 (IANS) Twin brothers Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman, who are out with a new reality for the youth, "Skulls And Roses", dismiss the idea of censoring programmes on the digital platform.

"Why should there be censorship on digital (platform)? If you don't want to watch it, please don't watch. Also, we have disclaimers regarding age before the shows. We create content responsibly, keeping in mind the viewer. It is like somebody selling panipuri on the streets and you are standing on the road and shouting how bad it is (for health). Just because you don't like it, nobody should eat it. How can you stop others from eating it?" Ragu said.

So far, web shows and movies were outside the reach of the censor scissors in India but conversation has been initiated for a while now that suggests this medium should comeunder the purview of censorship, too.

Raghu's twin brother and co-host of "Skulls And Roses", Rajiv Lakshman, said: "Talking about censorship, I believe a show doesn't become good only by showing sex or uncensored cuss words. Fiction shows on OTT platforms have been quite open while using these, but that includes good shows as well as the ones that are rubbish. We don't believe just because there is no censorship in the digital platform, we should use cuss words. We are doing the same thing we did on TV. We will put our contestants in an intense situation and they will react accordingly, in a real way."

About "Skulls And Roses," Rajiv said: "It is an unscripted drama, a youth reality show, something that has not been done in an OTT platform before. Maybe people have tried to do something like this before us or maybe they thought this won't work, but I feel only Raghu and I can pull off a show like this. We have taken this up as a challenge and have been working on it for two years."

Having worked in television for so many years and now entering the digital space, Raghu shared his observation of the difference between the two platforms: "There is only one TV in a room and everyione in the family -- be it the grandma or the father or the child -- is watching it. So, the content has to be such which everyone can watch. On the digital platform, there is a one-on-one communication with the viewer. The viewer chooses what he or she wants to watch. That is a relief for us, for we can create content that will suit your needs and not your entire family."

"Skulls and Roses" premieres on Amazon Prime Video today.