ETV Win Responds to ‘AIR’ Caste Controversy: Scene Likely to Be Removed
ETV Win, a rising player in the regional OTT space, recently celebrated the success of its emotional series Anaganaga. Building on that momentum, the platform launched All India Rankers (AIR), a youth-oriented web series exploring the struggles of intermediate students.
Initially praised for its realistic portrayal of student life and campus dynamics, AIR soon found itself in hot water after a particular scene drew heavy backlash for allegedly promoting caste-based ideologies.
In the now-controversial scene, a senior student appears to advise his juniors by urging them to “choose people from your community” and subtly ties caste identity to success, referencing cricket and other fields as examples. Adding fuel to the fire, a prominently displayed letter “C” on a board in the background led many viewers to speculate that the message was targeting or glorifying a specific caste.
Social media users were quick to condemn the scene, calling it regressive and harmful, especially in a time when caste sensitivity is a serious concern in public discourse. The scene was seen as tone-deaf, even if unintentionally so.
Reacting to the controversy, the makers of All India Rankers issued a clarification, stating that the intention was never to promote caste bias or division. They acknowledged the unintended impact and assured viewers that they are reviewing the content thoroughly. According to reports, the platform is likely to remove the controversial scene altogether to avoid further backlash.
With regional OTT platforms like ETV Win gaining influence, this controversy highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and responsible storytelling, especially when dealing with topics that impact large sections of society.
