Movie 'Aami' on Artist Kamala Das Starring Manju Warrier in Trouble as Petition Filed for Allegedly Promoting ‘Love Jihad’
Earlier, Vidya Balan was supposed to play the role of the writer. However, she opted out from the projects just 5 days before commencing the shoot.
Today’s Google doodle gives an ode to a prominent Malayalam and English writer Kamala Das (March 31, 1934- May 31, 2009). She was known for her extraordinary writing under the pseudo name ‘Madhavikutty' and ‘Ami’. She wrote ample of poems and short stories related to women- centric issues. Now, Malayalam filmmaker Kamal is all set to give us a film based on her, starring actress Manju Warrier in- ‘Aami’. Just as we thought that we are finally done with never- ending Padmaavat controversy, now this film is at the doorstep of Central Board of Film Certification. Kerala High Court received a petition directing to CBFC saying that the film should not be allowed to release as it allegedly promotes ‘love jihad’.
Das was born in a Hindu family but converted into Islam at the age of 68 (became Kamala Surayya) and this has triggered the controversy. Lawyer K.P. Ramachandran’s petition claims that the film might prove as the ‘catalyst agent’ to promote the idea of love jihad, calling it an alleged practice where the women are seduced, married to and then gotten converted.
The New Indian Express quotes the petition as, “The director has no right to make such a film rewriting history and real incidents that happened in the life of Madhavikutty according to his own whims and fancies under the guise of filmmaking freedom... The very purpose of releasing such a film having a link with religious conversion by the scriptwriter-cum-director at this crucial period is ulterior and he is using the position of the president of Kerala State Chalachithra Academy for the purpose.”
Earlier, Vidya Balan was supposed to play the role of the writer. However, she opted out from the project just 5 days before commencing the shoot owing to disagreement with the script. Although the regional certification board has cleared film with U/A certification, the decision from CBFC is awaited. Aami is scheduled to release on February 2, 2018.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 01, 2018 11:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).