Netflix series “A suitable boy” has sparked a controversy for filming kissing scenes inside temple, prompting BJP leaders to seek action against the OTT platform for “hurting Hindu sentiments”.
A month after the series was released on the platform, Gaurav Tiwari, the national secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, filed an FIR against the streaming platform for featuring multiple kissing scenes within temple premises.
The outrage was over a scene that showed the characters played by Tanya Maniktala and Kabir Durrani kissing in a temple. While the former’s Lata Mehra is a Hindu, the latter’s character was a Muslim named Danesh Razvi.
In a series of tweets, Tiwari said: “In the web series of ‘A Suitable Boy’, Netflix has shown three kissing scenes, in one episode, taking place within the temple premises.”
Alleging the series promoted “love-jihad”, he added “as per the story, a Muslim man is in love with a Hindu woman. But, why were all kissing scenes shot within the temple premises (and not mosque)”.
Madhya Pradesh MP Narottam Mishra also expressed his displeasure. In a video message, he said the content hurts religious sentiments and it is worthy of legal intervention.
He added: “I have instructed authorities to check what legal action can be taken against these scenes on the Netflix OTT platform and the producer-director of the series.”
Soon, #BoycottNetflix started trending on social media.
BJP spokesperson and advocate Gaurav Goel joined the trend. Without naming the show he tweeted: “If any OTT platform is deliberately insulting the Hindu Gods & Goddess, pls file the complaint with the police or local court under Section 295A of IPC. The law will take care of such offenders.”
“A Suitable Boy” is Mira Nair’s adaption of Vikram Seth’s novel with the same name. The six-episode series is set in the backdrop of newly independent India and is about a couple of families who are trying to arrange marriage of their daughter to a suitable boy. Ishaan Khatter, Tabu, Tanya Maniktala and Rasika Dugal play important roles in the series.
