By Arré Bench Nov. 23, 2020
A case has been filed against Netflix’s A Suitable Boy over a kissing scene in a temple between a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl. Some have labelled it “love jihad”, a concept as fictional as the show itself.
Another day, another boycott. This time around, it is Netflix’s A Suitable Boy that has drawn the ire of the Indian moral police. A complaint has been registered against the producers of the series for shooting kissing scenes between a Hindu girl and a Muslim boy against the backdrop of a temple.
The Madhya Pradesh police have filed an FIR against Netflix for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra said, “An FIR has been registered under Section 295 A of the IPC against Monika Shergill and Ambika Khurana.” Shergill is the vice president, content, at Netflix and Khurana is the director of public policies.
Business may be down during the lockdown, but the outrage industry is flourishing.
.#Netflix पर प्रसारित वेब सीरीज "A Suitable Boy" के आपत्तिजनक दृश्यों से धर्म विशेष की भावनाएं आहत होने का कानूनी परीक्षण करने के निर्देश गृह एवं विधि विभाग के अधिकारियों को दिए थे। परीक्षण में भावनाएं आहत होने का आरोप सही पाया गया है।@mohdept @DGP_MP pic.twitter.com/FlJJPwfN07
— Dr Narottam Mishra (@drnarottammisra) November 23, 2020
Mishra called the scenes objectionable in a tweet on Sunday. “A man kissing in a temple while a bhajan is sung in the background hurts sentiments,’’ Mishra said, adding that he has asked police officials to examine the action that can be taken against the director and producer.
एक #ओटीटी_मीडिया_प्लेटफॉर्म पर "A Suitable Boy" नामक फ़िल्म जारी की गई है। इसमें बेहद आपत्तिजनक दृश्य दिखाए गए हैं जो एक धर्म विशेष की भावनाओं को आहत करते हैं। मैंने पुलिस अधिकारियों को इस विवादास्पद कंटेंट का परीक्षण कराने को निर्देशित किया है। pic.twitter.com/oYSiizJxCQ
— Dr Narottam Mishra (@drnarottammisra) November 22, 2020
पुलिस अधिकारी परीक्षण कर बताएंगे कि संबंधित #ओटीटी_प्लेटफार्म और फ़िल्म के निर्माता निर्देशक पर धार्मिक भावनाएं आहत करने के लिए क्या कानूनी कार्रवाई की जा सकती है।@BJP4India @BJP4MP @DGP_MP @mohdept @BJYM
— Dr Narottam Mishra (@drnarottammisra) November 22, 2020
A complaint was filed by BJP youth leader Gaurav Tiwari with the Rewa Police Saturday. In his complaint, Tiwari has highlighted several kissing scenes, including one with a shivling in the backdrop. He has pointed out that it was shot in the Maheshwar Temple on the banks of the Narmada river.
Tiwari also linked the kissing scenes between a Hindu girl and Muslim boy with the phenomenon of “love jihad”. “Our government is bringing a strict law against love jihad,” he said in his complaint.
Finally My FIR against Netflix has been filed under section 295 (A) on Monica Shergill (VP Content) & Ambika Khurana (DPR, Netflix) over shooting kissing scenes under temple premises in ‘A Suitable Boy’ series.
I thank MP Police & HM Shri @drnarottammisra Ji for the support. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/iQocFrALR0
— Gaurav Tiwari (@adolitics) November 23, 2020
The Superintendent of Police of the Rewa district, Rakesh Singh, told ThePrint, “The matter is being examined. It will depend on the DPO’s opinion whether a case is made out and under what sections.”
#BoycottNetflix started trending on Twitter as a targeted campaign has been launched against the platform and the show. However, many have criticised this absurd move to go after a web show.
Freedom of expression, pluralism, and plain common sense are all suffocating in India. This kind of incident would be merely absurd, if it wasn't BJP-style absurd, which comes with fangs and claws and is dangerous. https://t.co/cDCuc1rRLi
— Mitali Saran (@mitalisaran) November 23, 2020
Freedom of expression, pluralism, and plain common sense are all suffocating in India. This kind of incident would be merely absurd, if it wasn't BJP-style absurd, which comes with fangs and claws and is dangerous. https://t.co/cDCuc1rRLi
— Mitali Saran (@mitalisaran) November 23, 2020
Some users made references to the Khajuraho temple and how sexuality was not considered taboo but celebrated in ancient India.
BJP govt of MP objected to scenes in the Netflix series A Suitable Boy, in which a Hindu girl kisses a Muslim boy against the backdrop of a Hindu temple.
These 👇are the sculptures in Khajuraho temple premise in Madhya Pradesh pic.twitter.com/x7STAOCjMe
— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) November 23, 2020
Hypocrisy Ki Bhi Seema Hoti Hai 🤦♀️#khajuraho https://t.co/wRiUNC6W4Z pic.twitter.com/dh2zEwwKxD
— 🦁 The Lioness Diva 🦁 (@IAmBornToRoar) November 22, 2020
Many pointed out that they don’t need the minister to protect Hinduism on their behalf, and that government servants should stick to delivering on governance.
We DON't need your effing bullshit to promote and protect Hinduism. SHove that up your arse. Save that for your braindead asshole supporters. Hindusim has survived for thousands of years and you can go to effing hell.
— JhoraPalok (@JhoraPalok6) November 23, 2020
A pandemic has gripped India severely. But our netas are obsessed with “love jihad”, a phenomenon as fictional as the Netflix show. To paraphrase Justice Chandrachud, if you don’t like it, don’t watch it.
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