As Saif Ali Khan’s web series ‘Tandav’ marked its OTT release, it attracted its first controversy for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
Apart from complaints filed by leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an FIR in Lucknow, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also sought an explanation from streaming platform Amazon Prime Video on the issue.
Now, it has been reported, that the Mumbai police has provided protection outside Saif Ali Khan’s residence in Bandra.
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An FIR has been registered at Lucknow's Hazratganj Kotwali against Amazon Prime's India head of original content Aparna Purohit, director of web series 'Tandav' Ali Abbas Zafar, its producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki and others for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has summoned Amazon Prime Video officials in India in connection with the controversy around 'Tandav'.
This comes after two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders alleged that the Saif Ali Khan-starrer web series 'Tandav' hurts Hindu religious sentiments.
BJP leader Ram Kadam had earlier said that he has filed a complaint at Mumbai's Ghatkopar Police Station against 'Tandav'.
Expressing similar concerns, BJP leader Manoj Kotak has written a letter to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.
In the letter, Manoj Kotak wrote, "It seems that the makers of Tandav have mocked Hindu gods and disrespected Hindu religious sentiments. I urge the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ban Tandav for the meantime." He alleged that the series has hurt the sentiments of Hindus and he would not tolerate this.
When contacted about the complaints, Amazon Prime Video PR said the platform "won't be responding" on the matter.
The 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 space.
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