Tandav – a political drama on Amazon Prime Video – has created much of a fuss in India, with people demanding a ban on the web series, and arrest of its crew. The controversy heightened to a level that the creator of the series, Ali Abbas Zafar, had to release an official apology with a promise to change the scene that hurt the public’s sentiments.
What is The Controversy?
Since its release on January 15, Tandav has been a hot topic on India’s social and mainstream media with people discussing whether or not the series has disgraced Hinduism. Besides the show is also accused of being “anti-Dalit, and anti-India.”
The show has an ensemble star cast including Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Zeeshan Ayyub, Gauhar Khan, and Kritika Kamra amongst others. And after the release, people are calling for the arrest of the entire crew of the web series.
𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝑨𝒏𝒕𝒊-𝑯𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒖, 𝑨𝒏𝒕𝒊-𝑫𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕, 𝑨𝒏𝒕𝒊-𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂 𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 "𝑻𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒗"
𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐯 𝐒𝟎𝟏𝐄𝟎𝟏 𝐚𝐭 𝟎𝟑:𝟓𝟑:𝟎𝟎
𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙖, 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙈 pic.twitter.com/6JTB3fskPy
— Harsh Shah (@_ShahHarsh) January 18, 2021
Hindu extremist political leaders were soon into action. Ruling BJP leader Kamil Mishra sent a legal notice to Amazon Prime, demanding the removal of content from the platform.
BJP leader Kapil Mishra sends a legal notice to Amazon Prime Video demanding that web series #Tandav be removed from their platform immediately otherwise criminal proceedings will be initiated against them.
(File photo) pic.twitter.com/yQydHdYRUT
— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2021
An FIR was also lodged in UP against the entire crew of Tandav, after which the UP Police approached the Mumbai Police, seeking action on the complaint. Soon after, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that the police will investigate the Tandav matter as several FIRs have been lodged against the series.
UP Police has reached Mumbai to grill makers of web series #Tandav which villifies Hindu Religion and show Dalit Hindus as rapists!@aliabbaszafar shud be put in that police van:)
— Ritu (सत्यसाधक) #EqualRightsForHindus (@RituRathaur) January 20, 2021
What’s The Update?
After much of a row, the show director Ali Abbas Zafar has not only offered an apology but has also agreed to make necessary changes in the scenes that hurt public sentiments.
“We just want to share a quick update with everybody. We are in further engagement with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to resolve the concerns that have been raised. We value your continued patience and support, and should have a solution shortly,” Ali tweeted.
We just want to share a quick update with everybody. We are in further engagement with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to resolve the concerns that have been raised. We value your continued patience and support, and should have a solution shortly. https://t.co/Yp8kogTlvs
— ali abbas zafar (@aliabbaszafar) January 18, 2021
The statement attached with the tweet added that the Tandav team has been closely monitoring viewers’ reactions to the web series.
“The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has informed us regarding a large number of grievances and petitions received on various facets of the web series with serious concerns and apprehensions regarding its content hurting the sentiments of the people.”
It clarified that the show is a work of fiction and the team had no intentions of hurting sentiments of any community, caste, or religion.
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