Day after Ministry of Information and Broadcasting summoned officials of Amazon Prime Video over a controversy surrounding web series ‘Tandav’, its director Ali Abbas Zaffar has issued an “unconditional apology for unintentionally hurting people’s sentiments”
He took to Twitter and released a statement, saying, “The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead. The cast and crew of “Tandav” take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologize if it has unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments.”
Within just three days of its release, complaints were filed in Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi and also a notice from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Saif Ali Khan and Dimple Kapadia-starrer was alleged of hurting religious sentiments and denigrated Hindu gods and goddesses.
The web-series released on OTT platform Amazon Prime Video on January 15, 2021. Viewers sought ban on the series alleged that Lord Shiva and Lord Ram have been insulted in the very first episode.
In a criminal complaint, filed in a court in Delhi, the petitioner alleged that ‘Tandav’ incited communal disharmony and hurt Hindu sentiments.
BJP MP Manoj Kotak wrote to I&B minister Prakash Javadekar seeking a ban on the series.
The drama series also starred Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Dino Morea, Kumud Mishra, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Gauhar Khan and Kritika Kamra, premiered on the streaming platform on Friday last.
