A Delhi Court has summoned filmmaker Leena Manimekalai and others in connection with a suit seeking to prevent her from depicting the goddess Kali smoking a cigarette.
A lawsuit was filed against Manimekalai for depicting the Hindu goddess in an “uncalled manner,” as well as for the film’s poster and promotional video, which depicted the goddess smoking a cigarette. The plaintiff has filed a suit against Manimekalai and others seeking a permanent and mandatory injunction.
The plea, moved by Advocate Raj Gaurav, sought an interim injunction to restrain Kaali makers from showing the revered figure in the manner that they have shown in their poster.
According to the plaintiff, the film’s poster offends religious sensibilities and violates basic moral and decency principles. Furthermore, the complainant claimed Manimekalai tweeted the poster from her Twitter handle.
The court has listed the matter for further hearing on August 6.
After filmmaker Leena Manimekalai shared the film’s poster on social media, a massive controversy erupted. The poster depicts a woman dressed in the goddess Kali’s costume. In the photograph, she is seen smoking a cigarette. In addition to her usual trishul (trident) and sickle, the actor portraying the goddess is shown holding the LGBTQ+ community’s pride flag.
Several FIRs have now been filed across India against Leena Manimekalai for allegedly infringing on Hindu religious sentiments.
Despite the fact that Manimekalai stated that the documentary was about a woman strolling through the streets of Toronto, several right-wing groups took offence and filed multiple complaints against her, eventually leading to the removal of the documentary from the Aga Khan Museum in Canada.