I&B Minister Smriti Irani Wants BCCC To Take Immediate Action Against TV Show Pehredaar Piya Ki!

Controversial television show Pehredaar Piya Ki may be in some serious trouble. I&B minister Smriti Irani has taken a strong objection to the show. She has written to the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) and has asked them to take immediate action against the show, on priority basis, reports India Today.

The much-debated TV show, aired on Sony TV, shows a 9-year old married an 18-year old girl. The show has been criticised for showing the boy ‘stalking’ the woman and an ill-advised ‘suhagraat sequence’.

Smriti Irani was acting on the basis of a petition filed on Change.org by petitioner Mansi Jain. Fans and Twitterati have been slamming the show for its ‘regressive’ content and accused it of promoting child marriage.

“A 10-year-old impressionable little kid (”piyaa”) caressing and stalking a lady who’s more than double his age and filling sindoor in her “maang” is being telecasted at prime time, family time. Imagine the kind of influence it will steadily and perpetually infuse in the viewers’ mindset. We want a ban on the serial. We do not want our kids to be influenced by such TV serials,” the petition stated.

The show stars Tejasswi Prakash (Diya) and Afaan Khan (Ratan) as its lead pair. In its defence, Sony TV told Indian Express that serial does not promote child marriage.

“It is such a futile attempt by people. The show is nowhere promoting child marriage nor is it showing anything objectionable. The suhaagraat sequence that people have been bashing had the lead Diya (Tejaswi Prakash) actually standing up against the ritual. She also mentioned that their marriage is for a cause and not to enjoy the marital pleasures. When we are giving out such strong messages, why do people need to file petitions? It’s an unnecessary criticism and completely unjustified.”

Talking to HT earlier, the show’s lead Tejassi said about the petition, “I’m not worried about the outcome of such petitions. And what influence? I’d really want to meet these kids who want to marry an 18-year-old girl.” She adds with a touch of sarcasm, “I’ll ensure personally that it doesn’t happen, don’t worry about it.”