After web shows are brought under I&B ministry's ambit, Tandav becomes the first series to be summoned for 'hurting religious sentiments'; Amazon Prime tenders apology.
A still from Tandav
Two months after the government brought video-streaming platforms under the ambit of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, its effect can be felt. On Sunday, the I&B Ministry summoned Amazon Prime Video India officials after BJP leader Ram Kadam wrote a letter to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, alleging that Tandav "hurts Hindu religious sentiments". BJP leader Manoj Kotak expressed similar concerns as he stated in his letter to Javadekar that the makers "have mocked Hindu gods", and urged for a ban on the series. Both leaders cited the scene where Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub can be seen holding a Trishul and a damru while acting in a college play.
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Taking cognisance of the grievances, the top brass of Amazon India had a preliminary discussion with the I&B Ministry on Monday. A source from the show's creative team revealed, "The team offered to tender an apology, which appeared to satisfy the ministry for the time being. Soon after, the head honchos of the platform had another meeting with the key players of Amazon US, and drafted the official statement in consultation with them and creative stakeholders, including director Ali Abbas Zafar and producer Himanshu Sharma." The statement, issued on Monday evening, read, "The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or insult any institution, political party or person... The [team] unconditionally apologises if it has unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments. (sic)"
Prakash Javadekar
Even as it hopes this will be the end of the chapter, the platform's team is pre-emptively charting out a plan of action in case the agitation continues. "They are considering snipping the scene as the last resort. An internal discussion has begun about rechristening the show Dilli, thus avoiding any reference to Lord Shiva."
mid-day texted Amazon Prime officials and Zafar, who remained unavailable. Multiple calls to Ayyub went unanswered.
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