In a recent turn of events, actor Nayanthara, along with the director, producers, and Netflix India’s content head of the movie ‘Annapoorani,’ find themselves facing legal consequences as a case has been registered against them. The First Information Report (FIR), filed in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, accuses the accused of hurting religious sentiments, disrespecting Lord Ram, and promoting ‘love jihad’ through the film.
The FIR, lodged by the Hindu Sewa Parishad, names seven individuals, including Nayanthara, director Nilesh Krishnaa, producers Jatin Sethi and R Ravindran, and Netflix India’s content head Monika Shergill. The complaint alleges that the movie, released in theaters on December 1 and later on Netflix on December 29, led to outrage and police complaints, resulting in its removal from the OTT platform.
Two additional complaints against Nayanthara and others have been filed in Mumbai by right-wing outfits Bajrang Dal and Hindu IT Cell. The charges in these cases are similar, focusing on alleged insults to religious sentiments and the promotion of ‘love jihad.’
The Jabalpur case, filed by Hindu Sewa Parishad’s founder and president Atul Jeswani, invokes sections of the Indian Penal Code related to promoting enmity among groups on the grounds of religion and common intent.
The FIR contends that ‘Annapoorani’ hurt Hindu religious sentiments, insulted Sanatana Dharma, and made baseless comments against Lord Ram. Specific scenes, such as Nayanthara’s character offering namaz wearing a hijab before making biryani, and a friend allegedly convincing her to consume meat by linking it to Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, are pointed out as objectionable.
The complainant, Atul Jeswani, further alleges that the film promotes ‘love jihad,’ a term used by some right-wing groups to claim attempted conversion of Hindu individuals by Muslim counterparts.
The timing of the controversy is noteworthy, coinciding with the upcoming consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Some complainants have drawn attention to this timing, with social media echoing calls for action against the film’s creators.
The controversy adds a political dimension as the Congress has declared its intention to skip the Ayodhya event, leading to accusations from the BJP and others that the opposition is anti-Sanatana Dharma. As the situation unfolds, the film finds itself at the intersection of legal scrutiny, religious sentiments, and political discourse.
Sources By Agencies
