ChennaiAmid the controversy surrounding the controversial poster of Canadian-born Indian filmmaker Leena Manimekalai’s film Kali in Madurai, Canada, a poster has surfaced in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari showing Lord Shiva ‘lit a cigarette’. The poster is purportedly put up by a group of men to congratulate a friend of theirs, who got married recently.
In the poster, which has now been removed by the local police, images of the groom, Pratish and his wife, residents of Arokiyapuram in Kanyakumari district, were placed in the center along with images of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Sensing the sensitivity of the matter, the local police removed the banner soon after receiving complaints from several Hindu organisations. The police also summoned the groom and his friends and later released after a warning.
The incident comes amid a growing uproar over a poster of Leena Manimekalai’s film Kali, which shows a woman in the form of Goddess Kali smoking and holding an LGBTQ flag. Several police complaints have been filed against the film director in this regard amid protests and demands for removal of the controversial poster.
Manimekalai, who has come under criticism for the controversial poster, has said that she will continue to use her voice fearlessly till she is alive. The poster has taken social media by storm with the hashtag ‘Arrest Leena Manimekalai’ alleging that the filmmaker is hurting religious sentiments and a member of a group named ‘Gau Mahasabha’ saying he has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police. is registered.
In response to the attacks, the Toronto-based director retaliated, saying he was willing to pay with his life.