New Delhi: The Centre on Sunday sought an explanation from Amazon Prime after its web series “Tandav” attracted complaints from several BJP leaders, allegedly for “insulting Hindu gods and goddesses”.
The development came after BJP lawmaker Manoj Kotak on Sunday said he has written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking a ban on the series.
Mr Kotak, the MP from Mumbai North-East, further said that attempts are often made on such platforms to not show Hindu deities in good light.
“Tandav”, which stars Saif Ali Khan and Dimple Kapadia, premiered on the streaming platform on Friday.
Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar has created, directed and produced the political drama with Himanshu Kishan Mehra and it is written by Gaurav Solanki, best known for “Article 15”.
The BJP leader has also sought an apology from the actors, producers and directors for “hurting the sentiments”.
Sharing the picture of his letter to Mr Javadekar on Twitter, Mr Kotak said as there is no law or autonomous body governing digital content and films on such platforms are full of sex, violence, drugs, abuse, hate and vulgarity.
Another politician, Ram Kadam, a BJP MLA from Ghatkopar West, also asked the director to remove the portion of the web series in which Lord Shiva is allegedly ridiculed.
The legislator said he has filed a complaint with the police in this connection.
When contacted about the complaints, Amazon Prime Video PR said the platform “won’t be responding” on the matter.
The government recently brought online mediums such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar, besides other online news and current affairs content, under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, giving it powers to regulate policies and rules for the digital space.
(With agencies input)
