Netflix Removes Indian Film Amid Controversy Over Religious Sentiments

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In the latest episode of brewing tensions between artistic expression and religious sentiment in India, Netflix has withdrawn an Indian film titled 'Annapoorani: the Goddess of Food' from its platform, following widespread backlash and protests from right-wing Hindu groups. This incident adds to a series of recent controversies where India's entertainment industry has succumbed to pressure from religious advocacy campaigns.

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The movie, portraying a young woman's quest to become India's premier chef, reportedly featured scenes of cooking and consuming meat in defiance of opposition from her family and members of the Brahmin community—the highest caste within Hinduism, traditionally associated with vegetarianism.

The film's release on December 29 resulted in a swift climb to becoming the top trending movie on the streaming platform in India, according to the production studio Zee Entertainment. However, within a mere two weeks, the film abruptly disappeared not only from the Indian Netflix platform but also its international counterparts.

Confirming the removal, a Netflix spokesperson acknowledged that the decision was made at the request of the licensor—a move that marks the film's unexpected vanishing act from the streaming service.

Amid these developments, numerous right-wing Hindu groups raised objections, with some going so far as filing a First Information Report (FIR) against the film's director, producer, and actors. The FIR was filed on the grounds of "outraging religious feelings" and "promoting enmity between different groups," as disclosed in a document reviewed by CNN.

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The incident reflects a broader trend where Hindu nationalist groups have effectively utilized anti-hate speech laws, or the looming specter of official investigations, to challenge and remove content from the artistic and media spheres that they find objectionable. These actions underscore a strategic trend in response to content deemed offensive, a practice that has gained traction in recent years.

Ramesh N Solanki, the founder and president of the Hindu IT Cell, revealed that he lodged a complaint against the film on January 6, claiming it was "intentionally released to hurt Hindu sentiments." Central to the objections was the portrayal of a Brahmin woman consuming meat and asserting that the revered deity Lord Ram would do the same.

Shriraj Nair, a representative for another organization, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), indicated that they had submitted official protests to both Netflix and Zee Entertainment, asserting that the film had "hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and Brahmins of India." Notably, a VHP spokesperson alleged that Zee Entertainment tendered an apology and announced that the movie would be removed from Netflix "until (it is) edited."

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Source: cnn


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