Latest news with #ShikhaSharma
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
From Delhi Crime to Guilty Minds: This August 15, watch four inspiring women as they redefine independence
This Independence Day, meet four women protagonists who embody the responsibility that comes with freedom. They exemplify patriotism, social consciousness, empathy and courage. Dr. Sneha, Captain Shikha Sharma, Vartika Chaturvedi and Kashaf not only make space for the feminine perspective in male-dominated realms but also strain against societal prejudices. Each of these women reflect values central to the idea of India, provoke thought and encourage us to imagine and work towards a more equal, just, fair and resilient country. The Test Case Directed by Vinay Waikul and Nagesh Kukunoor, 'The Test Case', though faintly inspired by the Demi Moore starrer 'G.I. Jane' (1997) shattered stereotypes by portraying Nimrat Kaur as the first woman to be 'tested' in a combat role in the Indian army. Kaur plays Captain Shikha Sharma, the only woman in a group of Indian Army officers training to join the Special forces. In scenes reminiscent of Kavita Chaudhary's 1987 series 'Udaan', she falters initially at tasks entailing physical strength and attracts disdain and animosity from her male counterparts. But thanks to her leadership skills and determination, she not only graduates at the top of her training course but also ensures that she gets justice for the trauma she has been put through. The show invites us to envision an India where women will be treated on par with men and will not be made to feel unsafe everywhere. Watch it on JioHotstar. Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon 'Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon' (MKBKSH), is a pathbreaking show ideated and launched by Population Foundation of India across television, radio, the internet, and mobile platforms. At its heart is Dr Sneha Mathur, a conscientious medical professional who chooses to leave the city to work in a village. Along the way, she tries to raise awareness about issues like family planning, domestic abuse, early marriage, sex selection, sexual and reproductive health. With patience, grit and courage, she breaks past barriers of ignorance and prejudice to transform lives. The show sparked conversations around gender equality and also sensitised the audiences to the rural inequities that must be bridged if India has to progress inclusively. The cumulative viewership of 150 million signifies that the show's message travelled far and wide. MKBKSH was directed by Feroz Abbas Khan. Watch it on YouTube. Delhi Crime Richie Mehta's Emmy winning 'Delhi Crime' not only sheds light on the dark undercurrents of gender violence, social disparity and unchecked crime but also celebrates Deputy Commissioner of Police Vartika Chaturvedi (Shefali Shah) who leads from the front to bring hope and justice to victims and survivors of horrific crimes. The police procedural crime drama has tackled difficult subjects like the 2012 Delhi gang rape case and the trails of murders by the notorious Chaddi Baniyan Gang. The drama reminds us what conscientious policing can look like and at the International Emmy Awards held in November 2020, it became the first Indian series to receive the award for Best Drama Series. Watch it on Netflix. Guilty Minds 'Guilty Minds' is an unusual legal drama steered by Shefali Bhushan and Jayant Digambar Somalkar. This series stars Shriya Pilgaonkar as Kashaf Quaze who with her friend Vandana runs a law centre to take up class action and humanitarian cases. Along the way, she comes face to face with many issues that contemporary India is facing but always fights for the underdog and never gives up on her idealism even in the face of disillusion. Be it gender violence, water shortages in rural India or corruption, Kashaf shows us how to take challenges head on and speak up for the voiceless. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Hans India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
This August 15, watch four inspiring women as they redefine Independence
This Independence Day, meet four women protagonists who embody the responsibility that comes with freedom. They exemplify patriotism, social consciousness, empathy and courage. Dr. Sneha, Captain Shikha Sharma, Vartika Chaturvedi and Kashaf not only make space for the feminine perspective in male-dominated realms but also strain against societal prejudices. Each of these women reflect values central to the idea of India, provoke thought and encourage us to imagine and work towards a more equal, just, fair and resilient country. 1. The Test Case Directed by Vinay Waikul and Nagesh Kukunoor, 'The Test Case', though faintly inspired by the Demi Moore starrer 'G.I. Jane' (1997) shattered stereotypes by portraying Nimrat Kaur as the first woman to be 'tested' in a combat role in the Indian army. Kaur plays Captain Shikha Sharma, the only woman in a group of Indian Army officers training to join the Special forces. In scenes reminiscent of Kavita Chaudhary's 1987 series 'Udaan', she falters initially at tasks entailing physical strength and attracts disdain and animosity from her male counterparts. But thanks to her leadership skills and determination, she not only graduates at the top of her training course but also ensures that she gets justice for the trauma she has been put through. The show invites us to envision an India where women will be treated on par with men and will not be made to feel unsafe everywhere. Watch it on JioHotstar. 2. Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon 'Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon' (MKBKSH), is a pathbreaking show ideated and launched by Population Foundation of India across television, radio, the internet, and mobile platforms. At its heart is Dr Sneha Mathur, a conscientious medical professional who chooses to leave the city to work in a village. Along the way, she tries to raise awareness about issues like family planning, domestic abuse, early marriage, sex selection, sexual and reproductive health. With patience, grit and courage, she breaks past barriers of ignorance and prejudice to transform lives. The show sparked conversations around gender equality and also sensitised the audiences to the rural inequities that must be bridged if India has to progress inclusively. The cumulative viewership of 150 million signifies that the show's message travelled far and wide. MKBKSH was directed by Feroz Abbas Khan. Watch it on YouTube. 3. Delhi Crime Richie Mehta's Emmy winning 'Delhi Crime' not only sheds light on the dark undercurrents of gender violence, social disparity and unchecked crime but also celebrates Deputy Commissioner of Police Vartika Chaturvedi (Shefali Shah) who leads from the front to bring hope and justice to victims and survivors of horrific crimes. The police procedural crime drama has tackled difficult subjects like the 2012 Delhi gang rape case and the trails of murders by the notorious Chaddi Baniyan Gang. The drama reminds us what conscientious policing can look like and at the International Emmy Awards held in November 2020, it became the first Indian series to receive the award for Best Drama Series. Watch it on Netflix. 4. Guilty Minds 'Guilty Minds' is an unusual legal drama steered by Shefali Bhushan and Jayant Digambar Somalkar. This series stars Shriya Pilgaonkar as Kashaf Quaze who with her friend Vandana runs a law centre to take up class action and humanitarian cases. Along the way, she comes face to face with many issues that contemporary India is facing but always fights for the underdog and never gives up on her idealism even in the face of disillusion. Be it gender violence, water shortages in rural India or corruption, Kashaf shows us how to take challenges head on and speak up for the voiceless. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
Mint
14-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Binge watching at a cost? Survey finds OTT platforms tricking users with hidden charges, forced ads
As streaming platforms gain ground across Indian households, a new survey reveals a troubling undercurrent that manipulative design practices, or 'dark patterns,' are now rampant across major OTT (over-the-top) services. According to a wide-ranging study by community platform LocalCircles, Indian consumers are increasingly falling prey to deceptive subscription tactics, hidden charges, forced app installs, and unexpected ad insertions on OTT platforms. These practices go against the spirit of fair digital services and consumer rights. The findings are based on over 95,000 responses from users in 353 districts, and come at a time when the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued strong guidelines against such 'dark patterns.' 'Dark patterns' are design elements intentionally embedded into digital interfaces to manipulate user behaviour, nudging them into purchases, subscriptions, or data sharing without informed consent. These can include misleading pricing, hidden cancellation options, or prompting unnecessary steps like installing apps or registering separately just to access content. India's CCPA formally recognised 13 such tactics in guidelines issued in November 2023, but the survey indicates OTT platforms continue to ignore or sidestep compliance. The report validates nine different dark patterns across OTT platforms in India. Here are the most commonly reported: Subscription Cancellation Maze: 50% of users said they struggled to cancel subscriptions because the option was either missing or deliberately hidden in the interface. Surprise Charges After Subscription (Bait & Switch): 53% reported they were not informed about additional rental fees for certain shows or movies even after paying for a full subscription. 47% encountered undisclosed charges like taxes and convenience fees only at the final checkout page. 24% continued to be charged even after cancelling their subscription, a practice especially common in software-as-a-service billing models. 77% reported being asked to install another app or provide unnecessary personal data just to access content. A whopping 86% of users noticed how buttons to decline offers or cancel services were either greyed out, hidden, or presented in smaller fonts compared to the more visible 'Subscribe' or 'Accept' buttons. The survey shows widespread non-compliance despite the CCPA's three-month deadline (ending September 2025) for platforms to adhere to new dark pattern regulations. Many OTT services, the report notes, have brushed off the directive as 'e-commerce specific,' continuing with the same practices. OTT users now liken these platforms to 'television 2.0', but with ads, hidden rentals, and fewer user rights. 'Consumers signed up expecting ad-free experiences. But midway through their subscriptions, they are being asked to pay more for ad-free plans or forced to watch ads. It's misleading and breeds distrust,' said Dr. Shikha Sharma, a digital rights advocate quoted in the report. LocalCircles recommends stronger enforcement of existing guidelines and direct regulatory action if platforms fail to course-correct. The platform has also launched consumer education drives, urging users to report such practices. If left unchecked, these manipulative designs could significantly erode user trust, posing a challenge to OTT platforms looking to sustain long-term subscriptions in a highly competitive digital market. For the survey, over 95,000 users responded from 353 districts across India. 63% were male and 37% female respondents from a mix of Tier 1, 2, and rural participation.
