Tandav pe Tandav! I&B Ministry summons Amazon India officials over web series

New Delhi, January 18: Taking action against toxic and Hinduphobic web-series ‘Tandav', the Union Information & Broadcasting Ministry has summoned the Amazon Prime Video officials for allegedly depicting Hindu Gods in a manner that hurts the religious sentiments of the people.

 

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has sought a response from Amazon Prime Video keeping in mind the complaint filed against Saif Ali Khan starrer ‘Tandav’. This comes after BJP MP Manoj Kotak said he has written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking a ban on Amazon Prime Video's series Tandav for ridiculing Hindu deities.

 

Multiple FIRs have also been filed against the web series. As per reports, an FIR has been registered against Amazon Prime India's original content head Aparna Purohit, Tandav director Ali Abbas Zafar, producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki at the Hazratganj Kotwali in Lucknow.

 

According to the FIR, following public outrage expressed on social media platforms, the web series was viewed and it was found in the 17th minute of the first episode of the series that Hindu gods and goddesses have been presented in an "undignified manner'' and shown using language which is hurtful to religious sentiments.

 

The FIR alleges that the web series hurts Hindu sentiments. The accused have been charged under IPC Sections 153A, 295, 505, 469 and the Information Technology Act, 2000. The FIR also says the series promotes caste divide and depicts a completely negative image of the Prime Minister of India.

 

BJP’s Ram Kadam has filed a complaint against actor Zeeshan Ayyub and the web series demanding an apology for insulting Hindu Gods. He asked why films and web series are regularly indulging in spreading Hinduphobic content.

 

The FIR further alleged that intent of the web series is to incite religious sentiments of a particular community and create enmity among classes. This act of the producer-director has hurt and incited religious and caste sentiments of the people, the FIR added.

 

 

BJP leader Kapil Mishra has also filed a complaint against the makers of the movie. He has also appealed to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar to ban the TV series. Mishra has released a video in which he alleged that the web series is a conspiracy to stir violence in the country. He further alleged that Dalits were insulted in the series.

 

 

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Earlier, Bombay High Court lawyer Ashutosh Dubey sent legal notices to Ali Abbas Zafar and Amazon Prime Video for the Hinduphobic content. It should be noted, a team of four UP Police officials left for interrogation of the Tandav team in Mumbai from Lucknow. The interrogation will be in connection with an FIR registered against the web series team the previous night.

 

The web series has been created, directed, and produced by filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar and Himanshu Kishan Mehra and it is written by Gaurav Solanki, known for 'Article 15'. Tandav stars Saif Ali Khan, who was recently criticized when he claimed that the upcoming movie on Epic Ramayana would justify Devi Sita’s kidnapping. Apart from him the series also comprised Dimple Kapadia, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Sunil Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Kumud Mishra, among others, premiered on Amazon Prime Video on January 15. Besides creating a controversy the web series has also received negative reviews.

 

The complete series is full of Hinduphobic content that can only be deemed as a propaganda-driven series. Bollywood is intentionally targeting one particular community to propagate their specific agenda by attempting to deliberately sow seeds of divisions among various sects of the Hindu society. It seems like they are using the divide and rule formula to get succeed in their mission.