Viral today, gone tomorrow: the uncertain life of music in India

In India, there is no statutory requirement for prior certification of songs released independently or on digital platforms, said Sudhir Raja Ravindran, Attorney-At-Law, Solicitor (England & Wales) at Altacit Global. As a result, scrutiny typically arises after release, through complaints or objections raised by individuals or authorities. This can sometimes lead to calls for removal or modification, even before there is a clear adjudication on whether the content actually violates any legal standard. In such a fluid legal situation, artistes are not required to obtain prior approval, which supports freedom of expression. But, the lack of clear pre-release benchmarks means that the legality of content is often tested only after publication, Ravindran pointed out.