Kerala Women’s Commission Calls for Malayalam TV Serial Reforms

The Kerala Women’s Commission has recommended sweeping reforms to regulate Malayalam television serials, aiming to limit their daily broadcasts and enforce stricter content guidelines. These recommendations, outlined in a recent report, include capping the number of serials aired daily and introducing rigorous censorship standards.

Shift Away from Mega Serials

The Commission has called for an end to the era of mega-serials—lengthy, daily dramas that dominate Malayalam television. Instead, it proposes reducing the number of episodes in a series to a maximum of 30 and restricting each channel to airing only two serials per day. To further streamline programming, the report also suggests banning the re-telecast of serial episodes.

Stricter Content Regulation

A key recommendation is the establishment of stricter censorship protocols. The report suggests that either the existing Film Censor Board or a dedicated body should be tasked with reviewing serials before they are aired. This measure is aimed at ensuring that the content is suitable for viewers, especially adolescents and children.

Insights from a Youth Study

The recommendations are based on a comprehensive study conducted by the Commission between 2017 and 2022. The study surveyed 400 teenagers aged 13 to 19 from Malappuram, Kottayam, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Key findings from the study include:

43% of respondents expressed concern over serials promoting inappropriate messages.
57% called for a revamp of themes and content to better align with modern sensibilities.
Children were found to mimic negative behaviors depicted by characters, particularly female protagonists often portrayed in a negative light.

Addressing Family and Societal Impact

The report highlights the adverse effects of serial content on families and children, noting that many storylines lack realism and promote harmful stereotypes. These narratives can lead to unhealthy behavior patterns, especially among impressionable young viewers.

Broader Recommendations

Beyond regulating television serials, the Women’s Commission has put forth additional suggestions to address broader concerns in media and society:

Encourage the production of short films, web series, and educational programs.
Implement measures to curb children’s excessive use of social media.
Prohibit the use of abusive language in TV shows.
Strengthen laws to prevent the derogatory portrayal of women in media.
Establish stricter controls to combat obscene content and set up oversight committees.
Create a grievance cell to address complaints regarding harmful or inappropriate media content.

These reforms reflect the Commission’s commitment to promoting responsible media consumption and safeguarding the interests of younger audiences.

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