ETV Wins in Trouble Over ‘All India Rankers’: Caste, Religion Portrayal Sparks Outrage
The OTT platform ETV Win has found itself at the center of a storm after the release of its latest series, All India Rankers (AIR), a campus drama that has quickly spiraled into a nationwide controversy.
The show, directed by Joseph Clinton and produced by Colour Photo fame Sandeep Raaj, was intended to explore youth, education, and societal issues. But instead, it’s been accused of spreading caste and religious bias under the guise of social commentary.
One particular scene in AIR is being slammed for maligning a specific caste with derogatory undertones. Viewers across social media argue that preaching caste eradication while targeting one caste contradicts the very principle of caste equality. Instead of promoting awareness, it’s been seen as inflaming old wounds.
But caste isn’t the only sensitive subject under fire. Viewers have also pointed out religious propaganda in the series. A Hindu villain, portrayed by comedian Sunil, is shown wearing an Ayyappa mala—a detail many saw as intentionally disrespectful. Additionally, Hindu students are shown as negative influences corrupting a well-intentioned student from another religion, further fueling the outrage.
As backlash mounted, netizens didn’t just blame the makers—ETV Win itself is being held accountable for greenlighting and streaming the content. Despite the OTT platform taking down the controversial scenes and the creators issuing a public apology, clips have already gone viral, and the damage is irreversible.
In a twist of irony, Ramoji Group, which owns ETV Win, reportedly belongs to the same community that was insulted in the series. What’s more, the scenes also appeared to subtly criticize a ruling political party, adding a political layer to the backlash.
While some argue that art should challenge societal norms, many believe that creators must exercise greater sensitivity when addressing deeply rooted issues like caste and religion, especially in a country already grappling with communal tensions.
Interestingly, not everyone is outraged. A section of the internet feels that real issues like unemployment and corruption are being ignored while a fictional series becomes the focal point of national anger.
Only time will tell whether All India Rankers becomes a cautionary tale or a forgotten controversy. But for now, ETV Win is facing more losses than gains.
