Netflix series being probed by MP police for temple kissing scene

The Netflix series ‘A Suitable Boy’ is being probed by the Madhya Pradesh police to see whether the kissing scenes featured in it were filmed inside a temple and if it hurt religious sentiments, the state’s Home Minister Narottam Mishra said Sunday. 

Mishra also indicated the possibility of legal action against the makers of the series, news agency PTI reported.

A Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth arm of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), office-bearer filed a complaint with the Rewa superintendent of police, claiming that the scenes were filmed in a temple in the town of Maheshwar. 

“The series ‘A Suitable Boy’ was released on an OTT media platform. Kissing scenes were filmed inside a temple with bhajans being sung in the background. I consider it objectionable. I think this hurt feelings,” home minister Mishra said in a video statement. 

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“I have directed police to examine the series and determine what action can be taken against the producer and director of this series,” he added. 

Speaking with PTI, BJYM national secretary Gaurav Tiwari confirmed he had submitted a memorandum on Saturday to Rewa SP Rakesh Kumar Singh, demanding an apology from Netflix and makers of the series and the removal of “objectionable scenes”. 

“Parts of the series were filmed in Maheshwar town in Madhya Pradesh. The kissing scene inside the temple has hurt our sentiments,” Tiwari said. 

The Rewa SP told reporters that action will be taken once footage of the objectionable scenes are received from Netflix. 

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“I have received a memorandum from Gaurav Tiwari, in which it is said that objectionable scenes in the series were shot in a religious place. Legal action will be initiated after examination,” he added. 

Renowned filmmaker Mira Nair has directed the six-part Netflix series. She is known for critically-acclaimed films such as ‘Salaam Bombay”, ‘Monsoon Wedding’ and ‘The Namesake’.