Netflix in India is currently under fire after viewers have repeatedly been encountered with scenes, which they claim have defamed the Hindu community. Sacred Games, Leila and Ghoul, all three shows have been slammed for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of viewers in India. People are now demanding a ban on the online streaming app. On Friday, #BanNeftflixInIndia was among the top trends on Twitter, with social media users trolling the platform for promoting "anti-Hindu" content. They flayed the makers of Sacred Games, Leila and Ghoul, while claiming that the shows depict the Hindu religion in a poor light.
Sacred Games on Netflix is the first Indian original web series, starring Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte in key roles. The show was received well by the audience. But it soon became the victim of a controversy as a section of people believed that it showed upper-caste Hindus in a bad light. In fact, a recent scene that showed Saif’s character Sartaj throwing away his Kada was also slammed online for allegedly hurting Sikh sentiments and there were demands that the scene be removed immediately. Ghoul, that was released towards the end of last year, starring Radhika Apte, was also being seen as being utterly "Hindu-phobic".
Then comes Huma Qureshi-starrer Leila, which is about dystopian future where Hindu Nationalism takes over India. The teaser itself earned significant criticism. It is about a Hindu woman married to a Muslim man and how their daughter is taken away by Hindu Nationalists because she is not pure enough, being a half Muslim. There were reports that Shiv Sena IT Cell member Ramesh Solanki had filed a police complaint against Netflix for “defaming” Hindus. However, he denied such reports later. Amidst all this, now comes #BanNetflixInIndia, which is dominating the trends on Twitter.
Check Out the Tweets:
Netflix is still thriving in India in spite of its hinduphobic content because we are predominantly Hindu. If it had to release Islamic counterparts to Sacred games, Leila and Ghoul in Islamic theocracies.. It would be banned. Netflix is taking us for a ride.
#BanNetflixInIndia pic.twitter.com/XD3BtmZ8Dn
— JOHAN (@ShaiviteRise) September 6, 2019
#BanNefetflixInIndia Trends on Twitter:
Netflix is trying to defame sanatan culture they always try to show that hindus are fascist and in future hindu will make slave of other religion people but they don't know hindu always accept presence of other religions and they always respect other religion.#BanNetFlixInindia pic.twitter.com/I9ZjI3BGRR
— 🇮🇳🚩Gopal Jha 🇮🇳🚩 (@GopalJh14687647) September 6, 2019
Here's Another Tweet:
Stop using netflix that propagate anti hinduism and defaming our country in every manner #BanNetflixInIndia pic.twitter.com/sZ73Cjn82j
— Shaya_San (@Angel13Little) September 6, 2019
A Propaganda?
I dont have problem with Sacred Games, I know some babas are con stars and every religion has such priests who just brainwash their disciples.
But yes, Leila and Patriot Acts are just next level bullshit, a complete propaganda show like the movie PM Modi.
— Aryan Bose (@Aryanhelps) September 6, 2019
Incorrect Narratives:
#BanNetflixInIndia@Nawazuddin_S @TripathiiPankaj
Showing these type of things will fuel conflicts,should discourage these type of series,incorrect narratives will portary poor picture about this peace loving nation to world. pic.twitter.com/fIC69LEOzP
— Sambit Sahoo (@Sahoo14Sambit) September 6, 2019
Those bashing Netflix are claiming that these shows streaming online are trying to paint an “incorrect” picture of the Hindu community in India and globally. A petition to stop Netflix from showing such content that allegedly hurts the religious sentiments has been initiated at change.org, which so far has earned some hundreds of signatures. More shows like The Final Call, Kafir and Hasan Minhaj’s Patriot Act, too, have been slammed for allegedly fuelling anti-Hindu sentiments.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 06, 2019 12:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).