MUMBAI: Censorship by any external regulatory body is something streamers and viewers in India are averse to. But there is at least in one area where they might have to yield to clipping scissors: how they depict the defence and armed forces in their shows and films. The Indian ministry of defence (MoD) has written to the Central Board of Film Certification directing production houses to get the former’s clearance for any show the story line of which features the armed forces or is themed around them before putting it out for viewing to the public.

The letter - signed by the MoD’s undersecretary of state Sudershan Kumar additionally to the MeiTV and the I&B ministry – states that some “shows and films are distorting the image of the Indian army….they may also be advised to ensure that any incident which distorts the image of defence forces or hurts their sentiments may be prevented.”

The MoD letter makes special reference to the depiction of “Indian army personnel and military uniform in a distorted manner in “XXX – Uncensored Season 2” and urges producers to acquire a no objection certificate from it before releasing shows on the defence on their platforms.

XXX Uncensored Season 2 is available on ALT Balaji and has been facing protests from certain groups for the manner in which a woman character forces “a man to wear the Indian Army uniform, which has the national emblem on its flaps, and then tearing it.”

The MoD says it too has received several complaints.