After refusing to give them immunity from detention, the creators and actors of the Amazon Prime web series Tandav struggled to get relief from India’s Supreme Court.
Several initial data complaints have been lodged against them for potentially offending religious feelings and aggressive attacks are also facing the squad.
Actor Zeeshan Ayyub, Amazon Creative Head Aparna Purohit and the producer of the series Himanshu Kishan Mehra, according to NDTV, had moved the top court demanding a freeze on future detention.
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Their attorneys found out that the producers of the series had already apologised and deleted the material, maintaining that the series was just a “political satire” A lawyer also cited the case involving Arnab Goswami, the Republic publisher, where the court granted him immunity from detention by maintaining citizens’ “personal liberty” NDTV added.
Nevertheless, the high court turned down the appeal. The bench was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times, “Your right to freedom of speech is not absolute. You cannot play the role of character that hurts the sentiments of a community,”
The court published a notice against them in separate states for the clubbing of many FIRs.
What’s the fuss about?
A scene featuring the Hindu god Shiva, portrayed by Ayyub, was objected to by Hindu nationalist BJP politicians. A police report against the web series was reported by a local official from the ruling party, alleging it was stirring a possible religious conflict and threatening to mount a protest at the company’s office in Mumbai.
The show’s producers released an unconditional apology after the uproar against the Saif Ali Khan-Dimple Kapadia starrer, and said changes were being made.
But with Maharashtra Karni Sena leader Ajay Sengar promising “Rs 1 crore reward to anyone who slits tongue of those who insults Hindu gods and goddesses in the web series” that didn’t please everybody.
The controversy has led to extra security outside Khan’s house in Mumbai.
India late last year placed streaming sites under the control of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, with growing cases of complaints and demands to block online content, and said it plans to govern their content.
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The Netflix series A Suitable Boy led to an Indian state asking police to investigate after a ruling party member objected to scenes in which a Hindu girl kisses a Muslim boy; and another Netflix production, AK vs AK, in which the Indian Air Force requested Netflix to remove scenes from the mockumentary feat
“The IAF uniform in this video is inaccurately donned & the language used is inappropriate (sic),” tweeted the Indian Air Force, prompting the veteran actor to apologise.
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