An FIR against the movie’s cast and its removal from Netflix has come under fire with prominent people condemning the actions on social media.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Hindutva groups and an aggressive social media campaign have forced the OTT platform Netflix and co-producer Zee Studio to remove Tamil movie ‘Annapoorani’ from their platforms.
An FIR has also been filed against the actors and producers over some scenes including cooking of biryani and offering of namaz (Muslim prayers).
Netflix, which started streaming the movie on 29 December, removed it from its platform on 10 January following complaints filed against Nayanthara, Jai, Nilesh Krishna, producers Jatin Sethi, R Ravindran, Punit Goenka, Zee Studios Chief Business Officer Shariq Patel and head of Netflix India, Monika Shergill. The complaints were filed by Hindu IT cell and Bajrang Dal in Mumbai, media reports said on Thursday.
In a letter to Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, Zee Entertainment Enterprise, co-producer of the movie, said that they have taken action on their complaint and asked Netflix to remove the movie immediately.
“We have no intentions as co-producers of the film to hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus and Brahmin community and would like to hereby apologise for the inconvenience caused and hurt caused to the sentiments of the respective communities,” reads the letter dated 9 January.
In Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur, an FIR was lodged against the actors and makers of the movie alleging that the movie promotes ‘Love Jihad’ and hurts religious sentiment.
The FIR was filed at the Omti police station by Hindutva outfit Hindu Sewa Parishad and names seven accused, including Nayanthara, director Nilesh Krishnaa, producers Jatin Sethi and R Ravindran, and Netflix India’s content hear Monika Shergill. The FIR referred to the scenes of actress Nayantara in which she is offering namaz before cooking biryani with the faith that it will taste better. The actress followed the path of another woman who had done the same. The FIR also mentioned the scene wherein an actor, playing the role of a Muslim, says that Lord Ram also ate meat and cited some Ramayana verses to bolster his claim.
The movie tells a story of a daughter of Hindu priest who turned vegetarian to become best chef. “A girl born in an orthodox family aspires to become India’s best chef. She faces events and challenges on her way and goes beyond her conventional beliefs and prejudices to achieve her dream,” stated the movie’s description.
The FIR against the movie’s cast and its removal from Netflix has come under fire with prominent people condemning the actions on social media.
“It just gets worse and worse,” said well-known columnist and news anchor Vir Singhvi.
Journalist Anusha Ravi Sood slammed Netflix and Zee Studio for removing the movie very quickly.
“The cause of worry isn’t that a VHP worker claimed his “Hindu sentiments were hurt” & filed a complaint. What should worry us is how quickly & spinelessly @NetflixIndia & @ZeeStudios_caved to pull #Nayanthara’s #Annapoorani down & apologised for it,” posted Sood on X.
Journalist Fatim Khan said: “Mainstream Hindi actors and directors will harp on and on about how OTT platforms have opened up the playing field/given them diverse opportunities which is all great. But hardly any will speak about this consistent chipping away at the freedom of OTT platforms in India. Shame”.
