‘Tandav’ Controversy: Amazon series faces calls for ban in India

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Authorities are investigating claims that Amazon’s new Prime Video series “Tandav” contains religiously insensitive content. Several Indian politicians say they have filed a complaint with the police or regulators about the company and the creators of the show.

The title is a political drama compared to the hit Netflix (NFLX) series “House of Cards.” Released on Amazon’s streaming service last Friday, it features some of Bollywood’s biggest names, including famed director Ali Abbas Zafar and actor Saif Ali Khan.

The show follows a power-hungry politician who is willing to do anything to become the country’s prime minister. It is loosely based on real political controversies that have broken out across the country as Hindu nationalism increased.

However, the show’s portrayal of some of the Hindu gods has drawn ire from local lawmakers. Manoj Kotak, Member of Parliament in Mumbai, said On Sunday on Twitter that he wrote a letter to the country’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting urging him to “ban [the] controversial web series. ”

Kotak, who is a member of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), said the show’s creators are “ deliberately making fun of Hindu gods. ”

CNN Business has solicited comments from Amazon and Zafar, the series’ director, but has not yet received a response.

Authorities intervene

The Department of Information and Broadcasting, which has announced its intention to regulate streaming services, said Monday it had contacted executives at Amazon about the show.

“This will be discussed,” a spokesperson told CNN Business.

The series has prompted other lawmakers to go to the police. Ram Kadam, another BJP leader and local legislator in Maharashtra state, said he had filed a complaint with police in Mumbai this weekend, accusing Amazon of planning “infuriating religious sentiments” and “publishing material. that can cause damage “.

Local police confirmed that they had received Kadam’s complaint, but an investigation had not yet been initiated.

Police in Uttar Pradesh state on Sunday opened a separate investigation against Zafar, as well as Aparna Purohit, Amazon’s head of Indian original Prime Video content, according to a report. media advisor for the prime minister of the state.
The series has also been touched by negative reviews on Amazon, claiming the show promotes a ‘Hindu-phobic agenda’ or comes across as ‘anti-Hindu’.

A critical market

India is a crucial market for Amazon. This month, a company leader called the country “one of the most exciting streaming markets in the world right now”.

During the pandemic, “the company doubled our investment in movies during this time,” Gaurav Gandhi, director and general manager of Amazon Prime Video in India, told Deadline in a recent interview.

Original content is key to that strategy, with more than 80 titles in production or development, Purohit told the outlet.

This is not the first time Amazon has come into contact with hot water in India.

The e-commerce and technology giant had to pull products from its site that offended customers, such as a doormat with the Indian flag or a skateboard depicting the Hindu god Ganesha. (Critics said selling such goods was disrespectful, requiring feet to be placed on venerated or religious symbols.)
The “Tandav” incident is also reminiscent of a recent meeting with Netflix (NFLX) in India. Last year, the streaming giant faced boycott calls in the country over a now infamous kiss scene on one of its shows.

The exchange, which takes place in the series “A Suitable Boy”, shows a young Hindu woman being kissed by a Muslim man in a Hindu temple. The show angered some viewers in India, which led to a police complaint against Netflix executives.

Netflix declined to comment on the current status of that complaint on Monday. A police officer told CNN Business the investigation was underway.

Netflix faces boycott calls in India over 'A Suitable Boy' kiss scene
The news comes at a sensitive time for streaming services in the country. Last fall, the Indian government announced new rules for digital media, saying online streaming platforms would be regulated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

That could force companies like Amazon and Netflix to follow the same restrictions as traditional media, such as rules about showing violence or nudity.

– CNN’s Vedika Sud contributed to this report.

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