Tandav controversy: I&B Ministry seeks explanation from Amazon Prime Video

Taking cognizance of complaints that Hindu gods and goddesses have been ridiculed in web series Tandav the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Sunday sought an explanation from streaming platform Amazon Prime Video on the issue sources saidThe development came after BJP MP Manoj Kotak on Sunday said he has written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking a ban on Amazon Prime Videos series Tandav for ridiculing Hindu deitiesTandav starring actors Saif Ali Khan Dimple Kapadia Sunil Grover Tigmanshu Dhulia Dino Morea Kumud Mishra Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub Gauhar Khan and Kritika Kamra premiered on the streaming platform on FridayFilmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar has created directed and produced the political drama with Himanshu Kishan Mehra and it is written by Gaurav Solanki best known for Article 15The ministry has taken cognizance of the matter complaints and asked Amazon Prime Video to explain a source in the ministry saidKotak the MP from Mumbai NorthEast alleged that attempts are often made on such platforms to not show Hindu deities in good lightHe said different organisations and individuals have complained that Hindu gods and goddesses have been ridiculed in Tandav web seriesHence we have made a demand to Javadekar ji and have written to him to ban the web series immediately The actors producers and directors should apologise for hurting sentiments he addedSharing the picture of his letter to Javadekar on Twitter Kotak said as there is no law or autonomous body governing digital content and films on such platforms are full of sex violence drugs abuse hate and vulgaritySometimes they also hurt religious sentiments he addedIt seems that makers of Tandav have deliberately mocked Hindu gods and disrespected Hindu religious sentiments he said in the letter dated January 16Another politician Ram Kadam a BJP MLA from Ghatkopar West also asked the director to remove the portion of the web series in which Lord Shiva is allegedly ridiculedThe legislator said he has filed a complaint in this connection at the suburban Ghatkopar police stationWhen contacted about the complaints Amazon Prime Video PR said the platform wont be responding on the matterThe government recently brought OTT platforms such as Netflix Amazon Prime Video and Disney Hotstar besides other online news and current affairs content under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting giving it powers to regulate policies and rules for the digital spaceThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever