Taziya scene in ‘A Suitable Boy’ lands Mira Nair in trouble

Mira Nair's A Suitable Boy previously made headlines for irking many over a certain scene that allegedly hurt Hindu sentiments. Now, the director and streaming giant Netflix has received a legal notice from All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) over their portrayal of a 'tazia' (replica of Imam Husain's mausoleum) in one of the episodes.

According to India Today, the AISPLB has demanded that the producers should remove the 'tazia' scene from the Netflix show. They also asked the makers to issue a public apology.

According to PTI, the notice read, "The objection which has been mentioned in the notice is to episode 4 of Season 1. At 43:30 minutes you have desecrated a “Tazia” when you have shown it falling to the ground. This particular scene has not just hurt the sentiments of lakhs of people (belonging to different religions, faiths, beliefs and walks of life) who consider a “ Tazia” to be the most sacrosanct and keep it at the highest pedestal, but has also invoked religious fervour of sorts amongst them.”

It further read, “It is needless to say that any act of yours which is contrary to what has been instructed above would invite initiation of criminal proceedings against you inter-alia under section 295 A Indian Penal Code, besides initiating further suitable action against you, at your risks, costs and consequences throughout.”

The director and streaming giant is yet to respond. 

Last year, police were asked to investigate after a member of the country’s ruling party objected to scenes in the Netflix series, in which a Hindu girl kisses a Muslim boy against the backdrop of a Hindu temple.

“It has extremely objectionable scenes that have hurt the feelings of a particular religion,” Narottam Mishra, the interior minister of the central state of Madhya Pradesh, said on Twitter. “I’ve directed police officers to get this controversial content tested” to determine “what legal action can be taken against the producer-director of the film for hurting religious sentiments”.

Gaurav Tiwari, a leader of the youth wing of India’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which also governs Madhya Pradesh, has filed a separate complaint against Netflix and warned of street protests by Hindus if the series is not taken off the platform.

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