The controversy erupted after filmmaker Leena Manimekalai shared the poster of the film on social media that depicts a woman dressed as Goddess Kaali smoking a cigarette in the poster…reports Asian Lite News
The Indian High Commission in Canada, following a controversy over poster of a documentary ‘Kaali’ that was showcased at Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, has urged the organisers to withdraw all provocative material.
In a statement, the High Commission said that they have received complaints from leaders of the Hindu community in Canada about “disrespectful depiction of Hindu Gods on the poster of a film showcased as part of the ‘Under the Tent’ project at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto.”
“Our Consulate General in Toronto has conveyed these concerns to the organisers of the event,” read the statement.
“We are also informed that several Hindu groups have approached authorities in Canada to take action. We urge the Canadian authorities and the event organizers to withdraw all such provocative material,” it added.
The controversy erupted after filmmaker Leena Manimekalai shared the poster of the film on social media that depicts a woman dressed as Goddess Kaali smoking a cigarette in the poster.
Complaint against director
A Delhi-based lawyer on Monday filed a police complaint against Director Leena Manimekalai over the poster.
The poster was shared by Manimekalai on social media on July 2. In the poster, Goddess Kaali has been shown smoking a cigarette.
It has sparked off a massive uproar on social media with demands to arrest the director trending on Twitter. According to a Tamil news portal, Manimekalai said that the documentary revolves around the events that take place one evening, when Goddess Kali appears and strolls on the streets of Toronto.
“The Director has hurt my religious sentiments by showing Goddess Kali smoking which is highly objectionable and not acceptable in any manner,” Jindal told.
Demanding an immediate registration of FIR against the independent director, Jindal said that such a deplorable picture in context to the Hindu Goddess is extremely outrageous, atrocious and hurting the sentiments and belief of Hindu community.
“This deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of Hindu Community through highly objectionable video and photo from her twitter account by the accused which is well circulated in social media and all public platforms is an offence under section 295A ,298, 505, 67 I.T Act and 34 IPC and therefore penal action should be taken against the accused,” the complaint filed with the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police read.
The lawyer further said that the objectionable video clip and photo must be banned and removed from the internet on immediate basis considering the defamatory impact and enrage it would cause to Hindus as it has disparaged the religious beliefs of a particular community.
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