The Ullu app, a prominent player in the over-the-top (OTT) platform arena known for its adult-oriented movies and series, has recently drawn scrutiny from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) due to concerns surrounding the availability of explicit content on its platform, as reported by various media outlets. On February 27, the national child rights authority issued a formal letter urging the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to take action against Google and Apple. The NCPCR also advocated for stricter Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols for individuals accessing Ullu and similar applications through Google and Apple’s app stores.
According to reports from news agency IANS, citing insider sources, the NCPCR has formally reached out to MeitY to address apprehensions regarding the Ullu app.
This development comes at a time when Ullu has filed a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) for an initial public offering (IPO) with the aim of raising approximately Rs 135-150 crore. The OTT platform plans to generate funds through a fresh issue of up to 62,62,800 equity shares.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, spanning from April to September, the OTT platform reported revenue from operations totaling Rs 58.33 crore, along with a profit of Rs 12.28 crore. By September 2023, the company had amassed a subscriber base of 20,92,975.
NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo was quoted in a letter to MeitY, as reported by Money Control, expressing concerns about the Ullu app based on a complaint received from members of Bollywood. The complaint alleged that the app, accessible on both the Play Store and iOS platforms, contains highly explicit and objectionable content. The letter highlighted the easy accessibility of the app on Google and Apple platforms, noting the absence of any KYC requirements for downloading or viewing its content.
As the content library of the platform continues to expand, Ullu has implemented price hikes for its subscribers in recent years. The annual subscription plan for Ullu has seen an increase from Rs 198 in 2020 to Rs 459.
In essence, the Ullu app’s rising popularity and revenue generation have been accompanied by concerns about the nature of its content and accessibility, prompting regulatory bodies like the NCPCR to call for stricter measures to safeguard against exposure to inappropriate content, particularly for underage users.
