Dirty Entertainers Review: Erotica, by definition, refers to any artistic depiction that evokes sexual stimulation, while pornography - often seen as a branch of it - aims for direct arousal. The reason we’re revisiting this age-old distinction is because Dirty Entertainers, the new DocuBay original, finds itself right in the thick of that debate. ‘Dirty Entertainers’: Adult Star Shakespeare Tripathy Says DocuBay's New Documentary Shows India’s Erotica Industry As ‘A World Often Misunderstood’.

Deftly directed by Heena D’Souza, Dirty Entertainers follows DocuBay’s signature style - smartly edited, sharply narrated, and never overstaying its welcome (all at 50 minutes). Its focus: India’s evolving softcore porn industry, or "erotica" as its fans and exhibitors (some quite literally) prefer to call it. The documentary explores how this underground ecosystem found new life in the past decade, thanks to cheap data plans and the smartphone boom.

It begins, fittingly, with the cinematic evolution of Indian erotica - the so-called 'bold' films that dominated the 1970s and ’80s. Malayalam titles like Julie and Avalude Ravukal are name-dropped alongside Jawani Ki Jalan. But while Avalude Ravukal and Julie were indeed daring and sensual for their time, lumping them in with softcore cinema feels like a stretch. They flirted with boldness the way Raj Kapoor’s Satyam Shivam Sundaram or Ram Teri Ganga Maili or Girish Karnad's Utsav did - more artful provocation than pulp.

Watch the Trailer of 'Dirty Entertainers':

Still, that’s just contextual groundwork before the film dives into the true 'dirty entertainer' eras: Shakeela’s reign over Malayalam cinema and Kanti Shah’s unabashed Hindi softcore empire. As trade analyst Komal Nahta notes, some of their films had profit margins greater than Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge - a quirky irony for India’s most enduring blockbuster.

'Dirty Entertainers' Review - An Intriguing Evolution of India's Softcore Industry

When multiplexes pushed single screens into extinction and CDs and DVDs followed, porn - like life - found a way. With porn sites banned by the Indian government and VPNs too pricey for the average viewer, a new breed of erotic streaming platforms emerged: ULLU, HotShots, Feneo, Fliz Movies, and more. Even the supposedly 'mainstream' ALTBalaji (now ALTT) cashed in with XXX and Gandii Baat, the latter running multiple seasons and even earning a mention in Dirty Entertainers for pioneering mainstream softcore content.

Naturally, the documentary acknowledges the lockdown era as a key turning point. While audiences were confined to their homes and glued to their phones, creators and performers were out shooting - quite literally - to meet the surge in demand.

'Dirty Entertainers' Review - Insightful Peek Into Workings of the Adult Industry

Through interviews with actors and directors like Tanveer Hashmi, Shakespeare Tripathy, Rajsi Verma, and Maya Jafar, the documentary offers glimpses into the industry’s ecosystem. Many of these performers, surprisingly articulate and well-educated, share their motivations for joining a business built on sexual titillation. Maya Jafar, a trans performer, provides one of the most intriguing perspectives, though the film frustratingly doesn’t delve deeper into how her gender identity interacts with such a skewed, male-gaze-driven market. ‘Operation Maa’ Review: DocuBay’s Insightful Documentary Explores Indian Army’s Innovative Approach To Combat Militancy Through Mother’s Love.

There’s also a fascinating revelation about pay dynamics: unlike mainstream cinema, female performers here earn more than their male counterparts - a fact that visibly irks Shakespeare, who insists men 'put in equal effort' in the scenes.

We’re shown snippets of shoots too, complete with hilariously deadpan directions from filmmakers trying to maintain professionalism amid absurd scenarios. The actors candidly discuss on-set challenges - from hygiene concerns to the awkwardness of filming with unappealing co-stars.

One particularly entertaining segment explores India men's bizarre 'bhabhi fixation' - the recurring fantasy of the seductive sister-in-law - that becomes the theme of many of these softcore shows and movies. The documentary even ventures into pop psychology, unpacking why so many viewers find the trope irresistible.

On the business side, Dirty Entertainers highlights the profitability of these apps. Nahta claims ULLU alone has earned roughly a quarter of Netflix’s India revenue, largely driven by rural audiences. However, the documentary sidesteps two major realities: rampant piracy (most of this content is freely available online) and its impact on these platforms, and the recent government crackdown on such apps. It does, however, note that many platforms escape regulation by hosting servers overseas, keeping them outside Indian jurisdiction.

What makes Dirty Entertainers work is its refusal to moralise. D’Souza doesn’t sermonise about ethics or shame her subjects; she simply presents both sides of a deeply polarising phenomenon. On one hand, actors and filmmakers argue they’re serving an audience that just needs an outlet - "to watch, get off, and move on," as Shakespeare puts it, rather elegantly. On the other, Dr Rajan Bhonsle, a medical counsellor, warns of rising porn addiction, its impact on marriages and teenagers, and the shady rackets lurking behind the glamour.

'Dirty Entertainers' Review - Final Thoughts

Ultimately, Dirty Entertainers manages to be curious without being voyeuristic, provocative without being preachy. It is a fascinating look at a hidden industry that has ruled over Indian pop culture’s underbelly. Heena D’Souza’s documentary doesn’t scandalise; it humanises. By refusing to take sides, it becomes exactly what its subject rarely is - honest, self-aware, and oddly dignified.

Rating:4.0

(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 10, 2025 10:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).