The English subtitles for American and British TV content broadcast on Indian channels are subject to ridiculous self-censorship for fear of a government crackdown.
The channels often replace words that might be considered offensive with politically correct substitutes. The results are hilarious.
Here's our take on how popular shows and movies would look with actual words censored in India.
1. Hell = Inferno
Did they just write 'inferno' instead of 'hell' in the subtitles on HBO? #ridiculous
Kismet{Unreal Bride}
@KisJayEnn
Did they just write 'inferno' instead of 'hell' in the subtitles on HBO? #ridiculous
2. Bitch = Harlot
'Crazy bitch' becomes 'Crazy harlot' in HBO subtitles. It will encourage children and innocent adults to look up words in the dictionary.
Anamika
@NameFieldmt
'Crazy bitch' becomes 'Crazy harlot' in HBO subtitles. It will encourage children and innocent adults to look up words in the dictionary.
3. Bitch = Woman
Today, during 'Clash of the titans' on HBO, the subtitles substituted the word 'bitch' with 'woman'...disturbing on so many levels! #shame
Siddharth
@Actor_Siddharth
Today, during 'Clash of the titans' on HBO, the subtitles substituted the word 'bitch' with 'woman'...disturbing on so many levels! #shame
4. Sex = Gender
HBO is replacing the word sex with gender in subtitles. Hilarious lines.
msnarain
@msnarain
HBO is replacing the word sex with gender in subtitles. Hilarious lines.
5. Jesus = God
Subtitles on HBO display the word "God" for "Jesus". I am missing the logic behind this.
Yash
@alsiladka
Subtitles on HBO display the word "God" for "Jesus". I am missing the logic behind this.
6. N-word = Black
Watching hangover 2 on HBO .. Subtitles just said "black please" .. Used black for the n word .. Amazing
Jai Row Kavi
@Jaiplaysdrums
Watching hangover 2 on HBO .. Subtitles just said "black please" .. Used black for the n word .. Amazing
7. Breast = Chest
Watching a movie on Hbo India. Two women talking about babies and breast feeding. The subtitles showed 'chest' for 'breast'. #wtf. Conserved
Jatin Arora
@TheDictatorMonk
Watching a movie on Hbo India. Two women talking about babies and breast feeding. The subtitles showed 'chest' for 'breast'. #wtf. Conserved
8. Lesbian/Gay = Queer
HBO subtitles (Mean Girls is on) just adjusted "lesbian" to "queer". Not sure how I feel about this.
Aisha
@ActuallyAisha
HBO subtitles (Mean Girls is on) just adjusted "lesbian" to "queer". Not sure how I feel about this.
Hey Mr. Subtitles Guy at #HBO, does replacing 'gay' with 'queer' make it better?
namchu
@namchu
Hey Mr. Subtitles Guy at #HBO, does replacing 'gay' with 'queer' make it better?
9. Shit = Jerk
She says "I'm tired of your shit", and the HBO subtitles say "I'm tired of your jerk." Censorship is the shit, err jerk.
Amreekan Desi
@amreekandesi
She says "I'm tired of your shit", and the HBO subtitles say "I'm tired of your jerk." Censorship is the shit, err jerk.
10. Panties/Underpants/Pantyhose = Short Pants/Pants
So HBO, panties and underpants become 'short pants' in your subtitles,but thongs stay thongs?
L
@slckrqn
So HBO, panties and underpants become 'short pants' in your subtitles,but thongs stay thongs?
11. Horny = In passion
HBO subtitles translate "I'm horny" to "I'm in passion". Because people who can't hear don't need to be corrupted by words like horny.
Gladys Balakrishnan
@mycrotchetyluv
HBO subtitles translate "I'm horny" to "I'm in passion". Because people who can't hear don't need to be corrupted by words like horny.
12. Vagina = ******
So starworld will use ****** in their subtitles for the word vagina but they forgot to beep it out. Was it because charlie sheen said it?
Stormborn
@suku06
So starworld will use ****** in their subtitles for the word vagina but they forgot to beep it out. Was it because charlie sheen said it?
13. Nipple = ******
Bahahahah Star World just censored 'nipple' in subtitles of Friends. #repeatedfacepalm
The Pai
@MystiquePai
Bahahahah Star World just censored 'nipple' in subtitles of Friends. #repeatedfacepalm
14. Cocaine = *******
So the subtitles on Castle don't have the word 'cocaine' but it's not beeped out in the spoken dialogue #StarWorld
Lady K
@karishmau
So the subtitles on Castle don't have the word 'cocaine' but it's not beeped out in the spoken dialogue #StarWorld
15. Beef = ****
The Firstpost reported:
One incident turned an episode of Friends into a legend of unwatchable TV. The show hinged on the gag that two pages in a cookbook got stuck together and the character Rachel mistakenly made a fruit pastry with beef. The station bleeped out the word "beef," a show of sensitivity for Hindus' reverence for cows, leaving viewers to guess why her diners were so disgusted.