AYODHYA: Terming the depiction of goddess Kaali smoking a cigarette in the poster of a film titled ‘Kaali’ as “highly objectionable”, a 'pujari' of Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya, Mahant Raju Das, threatened the filmmaker, Leena Manimekalai, of “dire consequences”.
In a message directed to the filmmaker, he asked her whether "she, too, wanted her head separated from her body”.
He also urged Union home minister Amit Shah to take strict action against Manimekalai and impose a ban on the film.
In a 97-second video statement in Hindi, the mahant said, “The film is an insult to Sanatan Dharma and Hindu gods, and goddesses which is highly objectionable. I request home minister Amit Shah to take strict action against the filmmaker and impose a ban on the film.”
“In the trailer, Maa Kaali is shown smoking a cigarette. Recently, when Nupur Sharma (former BJP spokesperson) said something ‘right’ (remarks on Prophet Muhammad), there was much hue and cry across the country and even abroad,” he said.
“Aap sanatan dharm aur sanskriti ka mazaak udaoge? Kya chahte ho, tumhare bhi sar tan se judaa ho jayen? Yahi ichha hai kya aapki? (Will you now ridicule our religion and culture? Do you also want your head to be separated from your body? Is this what you want?),” he said.
“There is anger among seers. You still have time to seek forgiveness. If the film is not banned, the situation may go out of hand,” he warned.
Senior superintendent of police, Ayodhya, Prashant Varma, said: “We have received such a video. We are investigating the matter.”