Netflix sparks controversy, after kissing scene from Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy creates political flutter

Mira Nair's series A Suitable Boy found itself in a new controversy over a scene in which the characters played by Tanya Maniktala and Kabir Durrani are seen kissing in a temple. While the former’s Lata Mehra is a Hindu, the latter’s character was a Muslim named Danesh Razvi. Soon the hastag ‘Boycott Netflix’  become a top trend, with Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Gaurav Goel stating that if any OTT platform was ‘deliberately insulting’  Hindu Gods and Goddess, one should file a complaint with the police or local court under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code. 

Actor-TV personality Rahul Mahajan was among the others who expressed his displeasure over the scene. He wrote, "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.’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.

अपने ‘A Suitable Boy’ कार्यक्रम में @NetflixIndia ने एक ही एपिसोड में तीन बार मंदिर प्रांगण में चुंबन दृश्य फ़िल्माए। पटकथा के अनुसार मुस्लिम युवक को हिंदू महिला प्रेम करती है, पर सभी किसिंग सीन मंदिर प्रांगण में क्यूँ शूट किए गए?

मैने रीवा में इस मामले पर FIR दर्ज करा दी है। pic.twitter.com/RcwuPDDME2

— Gaurav Tiwari (@adolitics) November 21, 2020

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

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. #BoycottNetflixpic.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

Netflix new web series 'A suitable boy' trying to trapping both hindu boys & girls into love and moving them away from dharma.
Earlier they lured H girls now they are trying for boys as well.#BoycottNetflixpic.twitter.com/S2XY5tNgrR

— अंकिता सिंह (@indiaAnkita) November 22, 2020

Netflix again glorifies Love Jihad in the latest webseries

True hindus to Netflix India :#BoycottNetflixpic.twitter.com/cIJinkpClv

— Kamlendra Singh Jhala (@ksjhala_udaipur) November 22, 2020

A Suitable Boy also stars Tabu, Ishaan Khatter, Ranvir Shorey,  Vijay Verma, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rasika Dugal, Vivaan Shah, among others. The series is based on  Vikram Seth's novel of the same name, that had relesed in 1993.The plot of the series traces characters in the post-Independence era and is set in Lucknow. It also traces the riots and other real incidents of that era.   The series had first aired on BBC One in July. It was recently released on Netflix along with Hindi dubbing.  The series features six episodes in total.