Govt bans Ullu, Big Shots, other apps & websites over vulgar content

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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has ordered the blocking of 25 video streaming platforms, including Ullu and Balaji Telefilms' ALTT, for offering content deemed obscene, vulgar, and pornographic in nature.

The order was issued to intermediaries on July 23 under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021.

Sources say this action was taken in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA), industry bodies FICCI and CII, and experts in the field of women rights and child rights.

This move follows an advisory issued by the ministry to streaming platforms in February 2025 to adhere to Code of Ethics prescribed under IT Rules, 2021 and laws related to obscenity in India.

In March 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) blocked 18 streaming platforms for publishing content deemed obscene, vulgar, and pornographic. Sources said five of the banned platforms resumed publishing obscene content using new website domains.

They added that the ministry issued a communication to all 25 platforms in September 2024, but the platforms continued to publish such content.

The current ban covers 25 websites and 14 mobile apps, including nine on Google Play and five on App Store. These include Big Shots App, Gulab App, Hitprime, MoodX, Adda TV, Mojflix, Desiflix, Fugi, and Sol Talkies.

Other blocked platforms include Boomex, NeonX VIP, Navarasa Lite, Kangan App, Bull App, ShowHit, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, ShowX, Feneo, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, and Triflicks.

Read: IPO-bound Ullu courts trouble for explicit content, IT ministry urged to take action

According to sources, a large portion of the content was obscene and vulgar. It included sexual innuendos and in some cases, long portions of sexually explicit scenes involving nudity, thereby being pornographic in nature. It didn't have any storyline, theme or message in a social context.

The content also depicted nudity and sex in several inappropriate contexts including the relationships such as family relationships.

Hence, it was in violation of section 67 of the IT Act, section 292 of the IPC, and section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. Some platforms published sexually explicit content in violation of the Section 67A of the IT Act.

In May, a reality show ‘House Arrest’ was pulled down by Ullu, following an intervention by the ministry.

Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), a self-regulatory body headed by former judge of the Supreme Court of India, had also previously sought the removal of over 100 web-series from Ullu. The body has over 40 streaming platforms including Ullu and ALTT as members.

Sources said while the platform removes or edits the web-series for a temporary period, it either re-uploads or publishes the unedited version after a certain period, thereby attempting to circumvent the warnings.

The self-regulatory body had also asked for content edits in the web series available on ALTT, since the scenes were distasteful and bizarre, where sex and nudity was shown without any contextual justification just to increase viewership.