Chennai: Over one and a half decades ago, well-known painter MF Hussain courted a controversy by painting Hindu goddess naked and incurred wrath of the Hindu organisations. Similarly, NRI Tamil filmmaker Leena Manimekalai has incurred controversy by showing Goddess Kaali smoking cigarette. Millions of Hindus across revere Kaali as mother goddess and worship. Therefore, it has kicked up storm on social and many demanded her arrest. The netizens have said that the poster is an insult to Hindu community and asked to filmmaker to tender an unconditional apology.
A poster of the documentary, shared by Manimekalai on tweeter, depicts a woman dressed as Kaali smoking a cigarette. The poster also shows the actor cast as Kaali in addition to her trident and sickle wielding the LBGTQ+ community’s rainbow flag.
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No sooner had the poster gone viral on social media than the netizens were after her and they asked the authorities at the Agha Khan Museum where the film was launched to stop it. Many people urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the office of the Prime Minister to take action because the poster is an insult to the Hindus. The director, however, tweeted saying, “The film talks about the events when Kaali appears in an evening and takes a stroll in the streets of Toronto. Once you watch the movie you will change the hashtag from #ArrestLeenaManimekalai to a love you Leena Manimekalai.” She also said that she had nothing to lose and wanted to voice that speaks without of anything. In a tweet, she said, “If the price is my life, I will give it.”
A police complaint has been filed against the director. Advocate Vineet Jindal filed the complaint for the poster of Goddess Kaali smoking a cigarette. The lawyer in his complaint mentioned that the poster was objectionable and offensive. The Hussain’s paintings sparked similar controversies and he had to stay in London as long as he was alive.
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