(Courtesy of Savita Bhabhi)
Meet India's first porn star
A racy cartoon attracts millions and, of course, controversy in conservative circles.
NEW DELHI — Thanks to an anonymous group of computer geeks, India's first international Internet porn star is fast becoming this conservative country's answer to Wonder Woman — and Monica Lewinsky.
But here's the trick: The steamy web seductress is a cartoon.
Turning the tables on Bollywood's demure heroines — who've only recently started agreeing to lip-to-lip kisses on screen — “Savita Bhabhi” (or sister-in-law Savita) is a buxom, recently married housewife who knows what she wants and how to get it.
Bored with her workaholic husband, she seduces door-to-door salesmen, neighborhood cricket players, even a not-so-subtle stand-in for the gray-bearded Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan — a move that earned her some flak from Indian entertainment channels.
Though pornography is illegal in India, Savita Bhabhi's sexual misadventures, published on savitabhabhi.com with scripts based on fantasies submitted by fans, have attracted a huge following, according to one of the strip's anonymous creators, who goes by the screen name Deshmukh.
“We get 60 million unique visitors every month. The average time a visitor spends on our site is more than 10 minutes,” the site administrator told GlobalPost by email. “Almost
70 percent of our traffic is from India, while the rest is from the U.S., U.K. and more than 80 other countries.” (Read more about my interview with this secret creator of Savita Bhabhi, here).
Part of the reason for its success is its diversity. With the help of volunteers — recent posts on the Savita Bhabhi fan site read “Urgent! Calling all script writers!” and “We need translators! Are you up for it?” — Savita's creators publish the strip in 10 different Indian languages, along with English.
By all appearances, it's a tough job. In another recent fan post, a user named Srinkar pleads, “If possible, develop your Bengali language up to date, as most of us are eagerly waiting to take the maximum pleasure through the mother tongue.” Indeed.
This site should be banned! It is against Indian Culture! All successful things are not correct.
I think this should be removed from in.com home page! This in.com is a family site and having alexa rank below 1000!. Are these encouraging children and women to visit said site?!
our comments are not appearing in the list. Remove this article immediately from in.com. We do not encourage our friends and relative to visit this site too.
What kind of morons are posting the comments. Porn cartoon is "against Indian culture"? Some of these geniuses should read up on India's own culture from Ajanta/Ellora times.
The image looks artistic to me. To those who argue to the contrary, just google "indian babe" and you will have nothimng to complain about...
A few things:
(1) I resent Desmukh's comment that it's Indian women's responsibility to "break the shackles" and sexually liberate India. While I don't doubt the abilities of Indian women, I also believe Indian men relieve themselves of responsibility much too often
(2) I would like to echo Chennairam's comment that sex is and always has been a part of Indian culture, it's a fundamental part of human nature.
(3) I believe the more open a culture is to talking about sex openly the better - more opportunity to talk about family planning, STDs, etc.
Full disclosure: I am an NRI woman.
thanks,very interesting 
Recent on India :
On Location: Haryana — India's looming food crisis
Jason Overdorf - India - November 2, 2009 17:30 ET
Mt. Everest's "other guy"
Jason Overdorf - India - November 1, 2009 09:47 ET
In the hills surrounding Darjeeling, West Bengal, the people worship second place.
In India, C-sections are in the stars
Mridu Khullar - India - October 31, 2009 06:00 ET
When's that baby due? The astrologer knows.
Interview: India's Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna
Saritha Rai - India - October 29, 2009 15:37 ET
What does a rising power think about China, Obama, the Taliban, Pakistan, Afghanistan and more?
Water woes: Too much of a good thing
Ann Tornkvist - India - October 25, 2009 08:19 ET
Photo essay: India is suffering its worst drought in 20 years. But not everywhere.
China, China everywhere
Thomas Mucha - Commerce - October 24, 2009 08:49 ET
We're all living in China's world now. How's your Mandarin?
CEO pay in India: "Vulgar and indecent"
Saritha Rai - India - October 21, 2009 05:49 ET
What's Hindi for fat cat?
In India, plagiarism is on the rise
Shailaja Neelakantan - India - October 18, 2009 08:30 ET
Publish, perish or pilfer?
India: The next Detroit?
Saritha Rai - India - October 16, 2009 15:17 ET
Automakers worldwide ramp up production on the subcontinent.
Welcome to the new Bollywood
Jason Overdorf - India - October 16, 2009 14:49 ET
Bollywood movies are suddenly starting to make sense. Hello Hollywood?
The dark side of medical tourism
Jason Overdorf - India - October 16, 2009 12:13 ET
India's showcase private hospitals have made it easier for the country to forget about the poor.
On Location: Delhi — India's killer roads
Jason Overdorf and Poh Si Teng - India - October 15, 2009 15:34 ET
Full Frame: Living stone
Khaled Hasan - Full Frame - October 15, 2009 14:47 ET
In photos: A Bangladesh community survives by collecting stones for crushing.
Full Frame: From sunup to sundown
Renaud Philippe - Full Frame - October 15, 2009 14:43 ET
A photographer captures daily life in Kolkata and asks, "What can a photograph change?"
.jpg)
A World of Trouble: Is the nightmare over?
Thomas Mucha - Commerce - October 14, 2009 13:35 ET
With signs of economic recovery finally emerging, here's where things stand in 20 countries around the world.
Under threat in India: mothers-in-law?
Saritha Rai - India - October 13, 2009 10:44 ET
But fear not. Here comes the All India Mother-in-law Protection Forum.
.jpg)
Americans seek stem cell treatments in India
Mridu Khullar - Health - October 12, 2009 10:54 ET
Unfettered by embryonic research restrictions, Indian scientists are offering stem cell therapies that cure the previously incurable.
Planet Health Care
Thomas Mucha - Commerce - October 10, 2009 11:19 ET
As debate rages in Washington, the answers are out there. You just need to know where to look.
.jpg)
Unfettered by regulation, India pulls ahead on stem cell treatments
Mridu Khullar - India - October 9, 2009 14:35 ET
A controversial New Delhi clinic deploys advanced therapies that are unavailable in the U.S. to cure Americans suffering from MS, diabetes, paralysis, Alzheimer's, Lyme disease and cerebral palsy.
Theodore May
The billboards featuring Beyonce's upcoming concert are everywhere in Cairo, leaving the Islamists mightily unimpressed.
Reporter's Notebook
An interesting note from India's Business Standard newspaper: the U.S. president's emergency plan for AIDS relief (Pepfar) depends almost wholly on...Read more >
It ain't easy running an airline these days. Fuel prices see-saw. Nobody wants to travel. You have to take off your shoes every five minutes. And...Read more >
A 22-year-old Indian guy was shot this weekend for pissing in public, according to a report from the staid old BBC. Nope, this isn't...Read more >
Featured: Special Projects
After the Fall:
20 years since the Berlin Wall came down
Life, Death and the Taliban:
Videos and stories
Study Abroad:
Students report from the road
Living in the Shadows:
An intimate look at China's migrant workers
A World of Trouble:
The global economy in 20 hotspots
Global Blogs:
Comments:
6 Comments.
Login or Register to post comments