On Sunday Afternoon, Twitterattis appealed fellow Indians to #BoycottNetflix, as netizens expressed outrage over a scene from the Netflix miniseries A Suitable Boy. In Mira Nair’s adaption of Vikram Seth's popular novel, the show carries a scene of two characters, one Hindu and Muslim, kissing in a temple.
In the scene Tanya Maniktala's character Lata Mehra is portrayed in an intimate position with Danesh Razvi's Kabir Durrani in a temple. The show, as well as the book, explore themes relating to communal tensions in India and Hindu-Muslim relations in a post-partition setting. The OTT platform carried all the six episodes of Mira Nair's miniseries, which was released in October.
The abovementioned scene appears to have ruffled religious sensibilities, as incensed sections of the internet rallied forth with #BoycottNetflix. Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Gaurav Goel joined the trend and urged people to file a complaint with the local police or court if any OTT platform was “deliberately insulting” Hindu Gods and Goddess. However, the appeal did not carry any mention of 'A Suitable Boy'.
If any OTT platform is delibrately insulting the Hindu Gods & Goddess, pls file the complaint with the police or local court under Section 295A of IPC. The law will take care of such offenders.
In case of any assistance you can contact me or @chakusameer#BoycottNetflix
— Gaurav Goel (@goelgauravbjp) November 22, 2020
Madhya Pradesh MP Narottam Mishra also expressed his displeasure. In a video message, he said that the content hurts religious sentiments and says it is worthy of legal intervention.
Thank You MP's Home Minister @drnarottammisra Ji#BoycottNetflix pic.twitter.com/cwdROSGRhq
— Arun Yadav (@beingarun28) November 22, 2020
Actor Rahul Mahajan further chimed in to express his dismay. "A Muslim man kissing a Hindu woman during the Ram Aarti was ‘creative freedom’. But when a Hindu man and Muslim women would kiss in a mosque during Azaan, this creative freedom would go missing," he tweeted.
Shame On You Netflix ð #BoycottNetflix https://t.co/q7jTaQlbLi
— Narendra Kumar Chawla (@NarenderChawla1) November 22, 2020
Another user alleged that there is a trend. "Time and again Netflix has shown its hate towards Sanatan Dharma," he said.
It`s not the first time. It won`t be the last. Time and again Netflix has shown it`s hαte towards Sanatan Dharma. Do we need such propaganda in the name of freedom of speech. It is time we take a stand. #BoycottNetflix pic.twitter.com/jYqpX4NLnR
— Vertigo_Warrior (@VertigoWarrior) November 22, 2020
Netflix fully destroying the Hindu culture. We will never forgive netflix.
We want to fully Boycott Netflix.
Want you?
RT if you also want #BoycottNetflix
— Pushpendra Kulshreshtha (@iArmySupporter) November 22, 2020
A user threatened legal action against the content. "Filed complaint against NetflixIndia for defaming Hindus & India," he wrote. Some called this 'anti-Hindu' and alleged it of defaming the Hindu religion.
An anti Hindu series again.
— सà¥ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂमित राठà¥Â ð®ð³ #CBIForPalghar (@imsumitrathi) November 22, 2020
I started watching it but when found their agenda... quitted#BoycottNetflix pic.twitter.com/zn1KUqxDUG
Filed complaint against @NetflixIndia for defaming Hindus,& India.Almost every series is serious attemp to paint Hindus and India in bad light #BoycottNetflix pic.twitter.com/xIYBnrnpRS
— CHETHANA PRABHU (@Ravalanath) November 22, 2020
Netizens trending #BoycottNetflix also seems to have an issue with Lata Mehra and Kabir Durrani's interfaith relationship represented in the book. The ground is still hot with claims of “love jihad” being revived and increasingly discussed in the socio-political discourse. Recently, Madhya Pradesh became the fifth state to declare its intention of announcing a ban on “love jihad”.
Netflix new web series 'A suitable boy' trying to trapping both hindu boys & girls into love and moving them away from dharma.
— à¤Â à¤ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂà¤ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂिता सिà¤ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂह (@indiaAnkita) November 22, 2020
Earlier they lured H girls now they are trying for boys as well.#BoycottNetflix pic.twitter.com/S2XY5tNgrR
The miniseries produced by BBC was released on October 23 in India. It is based on Vikram Seth's sprawling novel of the same name published in 1993. It traces the lives of four families -- delving into social, cultural, and religious structures that made up life in a post-partition, independent India.
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