Case against Nayanthara for disrespecting Ram, promoting ‘Love Jihad’ in 'Annapoorani’

The Madhya Pradesh police have filed a case against actor Nayanthara, the director, and producers of the Tamil movie 'Annapoorani,’ along with Netflix India's content head Monika Shergill, based on a complaint by a right-wing group alleging hurting religious sentiments, disrespecting Lord Ram, and promoting 'Love Jihad.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the accused at Omti police station in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur. The fringe outfit Hindu Sewa Parishad, led by founder and president Atul Jeswani, filed the FIR, alleging that the movie has hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus, disrespected Lord Ram, and promoted 'Love Jihad.'

'Annapoorani,' which hit theatres on December 1, faced a fresh wave of backlash when it started streaming on Netflix on December 29. The controversial content led to multiple police complaints and, subsequently, the removal of the film from the popular OTT platform.

The FIR invokes sections of the Indian Penal Code related to promoting enmity among groups on the grounds of religion and common intent. The complainants assert that the film's narrative has crossed the line, sparking concerns about its potential impact on social harmony.

This is not an isolated incident, as right-wing outfits in Mumbai, including Bajrang Dal and Hindu IT Cell, have also lodged complaints against Nayanthara and others. The Mumbai complaints mirror the allegations made in Jabalpur, adding to the legal woes surrounding the film.

While the film initially garnered attention for its theatrical release, the subsequent controversy has shifted the focus to the potential repercussions on artistic freedom and expression in the country.