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Synopsis

Mithun Vijay Kumar, an Author, and Political Analyst has sent a ‘legal notice’ to Netflix asking it to take down one of the episodes of the show "Big Bang Theory", wherein Raj Koothrapalli, a character played by Kunal Nayyar, “insults” Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit in Season 2; Episode 1.

In the legal notice, Mithun Vijay Kumar pointed out that the remarks made by Raj Koothrapalli are “not only offensive” but also “defamatory”. The notice states that such content can have a “negative impact on society”, particularly in “perpetuating harmful stereotypes against women”. He further states that the content “promotes sexism” and “misogyny” which is not acceptable in any form.

The legal notice demands that Netflix remove the episode immediately and failure to do so would result in legal action for promoting discrimination against women. Mithun Vijay Kumar has said he will pursue additional legal action against Netflix if the streaming giant does not respond or complies with the requests made in the legal notice.

Speaking about the matter, Mithun Vijay Kumar said, "It is important to hold companies like Netflix accountable for their actions and to ensure that they are sensitive to the cultural values and sentiments of the communities they serve. I strongly believe that streaming service providers have a responsibility to carefully curate the content that they offer on their platforms. It is their duty to ensure that the material they present does not include derogatory, offensive, or defamatory content. I was deeply troubled by the use of a derogatory term in one of the shows on Netflix - Big Bang Theory. This term was used in reference to the acclaimed actress Madhuri Dixit, and it was not only offensive and deeply hurtful but also showed a lack of regard for her dignity.

I strongly believe that streaming service providers must take such issues seriously and act quickly to address any instances of offensive or defamatory content. Furthermore, streaming service providers should be proactive in preventing such content from being streamed. This can be achieved through clear guidelines and rigorous screening processes for all the content published. Ultimately, streaming services have a significant influence over the content that is consumed by millions of individuals, and with this influence comes a responsibility to ensure that the content they offer is respectful, inclusive, and free from harmful stereotypes. I hope that this incident will serve as a wake-up call to all streaming services providers to work towards creating a more equitable and respectful media landscape."