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Amazon Prime issues rare apology for hurting religious sentiment in India with Tandav

Amazon Prime issues rare apology for hurting religious sentiment in India with Tandav

There was severe backlash after a Muslim actor portrayed a Hindu God in the show.
03 Mar, 2021

Amazon Prime has apologised for offending Hindu sentiment with its original Indian series Tandav.

Several publications have called the apology rare but perhaps it isn’t surprising, given the backlash it garnered.

The series, created by Muslim filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar, had a scene in which a Muslim actor, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, portrayed a Hindu God. The scene was edited out and Ayyub apologised but it was met with severe backlash and calls from Hindu nationalists to boycott Amazon.

“Amazon Prime Video again deeply regrets that viewers considered certain scenes to be objectionable in the recently launched fictional series Tandav,” the streamer said in a written statement, according to Variety. “This was never our intention, and the scenes that were objected to were removed or edited when they were brought to our attention. We respect our viewers’ diverse beliefs and apologise unconditionally to anyone who felt hurt by these scenes. Our teams follow company content evaluation processes, which we acknowledge need to be constantly updated to better serve our audiences. We will continue to develop entertaining content with partners, while complying with the laws of India and respecting the diversity of culture and beliefs of our audiences.”

The controversy escalated last week when police questioned a top Amazon executive about the show.

Variety also noted that the Indian government published a set of regulations for streaming platforms and social media sites. The Digital Media Ethics Code warns that “The category classification of a content will take into account the potentially offensive impact of a film on matters such as caste, race, gender, religion, disability or sexuality that may arise in a wide range of works, and the classification decision will take account of the strength or impact of their inclusion”.

The makers of Tandav already issued an unconditional apology after a BJP leader filed a case against them, claiming it was stirring a potential religious controversy and threatening to launch a protest at the company’s office in Mumbai.

The commotion had also led to additional security outside Saif Ali Khan's Mumbai residence. Khan is one of the stars of Tandav.

Set in Delhi, Tandav features an array of characters scheming for political power. The show focuses on the story of Samar Pratap (Saif Ali Khan) and his quest to inherit the chair of PM from his father Devki Nandan (Tigmanshu Dhulia), who isn't willing to retire yet.

This isn’t the first time they have called on the public to boycott something for hurting their religious sentiments. One such example is the call to boycott laundry detergent maker Surf Excel for an ad that ‘promoted jihad’. The ad showed a young girl getting blasted with colour on Holi, taking all the fire before nodding to her Muslim friend to come out. He is dressed in white and she delivers him in pristine condition to the mosque where he can say his prayers.

Comments

SATT Mar 03, 2021 03:19pm
Bollywood is ban in Pakistan.
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Khan White Mar 03, 2021 03:37pm
Let the barrage of hater comments begin. Fastrack should be typing furiously right now to get in first.
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M. Saeed Mar 03, 2021 03:38pm
Had it been an all Hindu film, than everything would have been okay.
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Afzal Baig Mar 03, 2021 03:40pm
Excellent! India know how to handle these social media and OTT. Fall inline or quit!
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FASTag Mar 03, 2021 03:48pm
Such rare apologies will be on regular basis now. Mind it!
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Surya Kant Mar 03, 2021 03:48pm
You will soon see, BBC also issuing apology for entertaining filth against mother of our PM.
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Rick Mar 03, 2021 03:50pm
How is India different, it not its the same, actually much worse than other countries as it falsely claims to be secular. There is nothing offensive about the scenes that they are referring to here.
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Teddy Mar 03, 2021 03:58pm
That is the power of the government
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Mar 03, 2021 03:59pm
Too little, too late.
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marquis de sade Mar 03, 2021 04:16pm
Nonsense. Countless non-Hindu actors have portrayed gods and godesses. this was more to do with the way in which the character was portrayed.
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Baloch Mar 03, 2021 04:21pm
Good move
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Savera Mar 03, 2021 04:34pm
When will Bollywood apologise for making provocative anti Muslim films?
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Rahul S. Mar 03, 2021 04:45pm
This is how it's done in a democratic nation. Without violence. Apology accepted.
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F Nawaz Mar 03, 2021 04:59pm
Have seen the show. It's more likely that the Modi govt didn't like that their political tactics are on display in the series. Hence the ban.
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Shreyyas Mar 03, 2021 05:11pm
@Savera Anti-Muslim is different from anti-Islam. It's the latter that's being opposed here.
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KashmiriPandit Mar 03, 2021 05:15pm
Character of King Arjun in the original 1988 Mahabharta was performed by a Muslim actor and he is the moved loved actor and the way he performed. It is do with the story and how you portray the character.
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Sam Mar 03, 2021 05:17pm
@Savera No they don't, either they make it anti-Pakistan or they make it anti-terrorism. The problem is that being Pakistani and being Muslim is not the same thing! And unfortunately majority of radical elements are currently Muslim, so it is generalized. It will change and improve.
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Suresh Singh Mar 03, 2021 05:20pm
It means now it is clear that they hurted Hindu sentiments.
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The Mask Mar 03, 2021 05:20pm
No one messes with india and gets away with it.
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Karl Marx Mar 03, 2021 05:23pm
The director and the actor should shift to drawing cartoons now that their movie dreams are over. Let's see how their new career goes.
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Sid Mar 03, 2021 05:42pm
That’s Indian power for you in action. Pakistan should watch and learn from this, instead of horse trading senators!
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Views-r-my-own Mar 03, 2021 05:45pm
Hindu extremism will be the downfall of India.
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saqib Mar 03, 2021 05:49pm
Such a stark contrast to the reactions. Hindu's protest and nobody reacts to protect freedom of speech. If Muslim's protest, the world goes up in arms about safeguarding fundamental rights of secularism and free speech. Double standards laid bare. Muslim themselves are to blame for allowing these corrupt governments from splitting up the ummah where we have gained numbers but lost all and any influence in the world to demand justice and dignity.
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LgbtqX Mar 03, 2021 06:08pm
Money talks!!
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RationalBabu Mar 03, 2021 06:12pm
@Savera can you name any?
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Dr. Saab Mar 03, 2021 06:15pm
Fortunately no one was hurt in the end.
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RationalBabu Mar 03, 2021 06:18pm
@Views-r-my-own all extremism is bad. Just look what Islamic extremism hats done to Pakistan?
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Savera Mar 03, 2021 06:54pm
@RationalBabu Almost all Bollywood movies and mainstream News channels in India are Islamophobic and are openly spewing hatred against Islam and Muslims. Till date neither a filmmaker nor any news channel has apologised for hurting their sentiments.
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joe Mar 03, 2021 06:55pm
Several publications have called the apology rare but perhaps it isn’t surprising, given the backlash it garnered" Never underestimate Modi.This msn knows how to deal with not only most powerful political figures in world but also with most powerful media .
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HumIndian Mar 03, 2021 06:58pm
Modi makes it possible
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Anisq13 Mar 03, 2021 07:01pm
If Islam was insulted, India would have burnt.
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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali Mar 03, 2021 07:18pm
Will Amazon apologize all the Arabs and Muslims who were played by Jews and Mexicans?
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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali Mar 03, 2021 07:19pm
Amazon gave in for few dollars. Shameful.
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From BD with Love Mar 03, 2021 07:28pm
Under the BJP government, India's intolerance is reaching new heights in every passing days! WoW.
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well-wisher Mar 03, 2021 07:34pm
No one intended to hurt anyone in the first place because Islam respects all religions and beliefs. an apology, nonetheless should is gesture of good will for anyone that felt hurt.
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Rana Talukdar Mar 03, 2021 09:28pm
Thats why i hate religious bigots irrespective of faiths.
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Chandra Shekhar Mar 03, 2021 09:41pm
Hope this doesn't become a norm...
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NAGARAJA B N Mar 03, 2021 09:44pm
@HumIndian Its the large market, mostly Hindu patronised that worries Amazon, not Modi . Its business or burst.
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Aftab Mar 03, 2021 10:03pm
Amazon have to apologise else they will loose a multimillion dollar market.
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Bipul Mar 03, 2021 10:04pm
Wow, someone apologising for insulting Hindu religion has become a news. Why is that?
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Adgjkl Mar 03, 2021 10:28pm
@KashmiriPandit . In new Mahabharat Arjun character was played by another Muslim guy from Kashmir. There is no issue if it is not demeaned
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Gaurav Mar 03, 2021 10:41pm
@Chandra Shekhar "Hope this doesn't become a norm..." Hope demeaning other people's religion does not become the norm
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Hasz Mar 03, 2021 11:01pm
Nobody dares India
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Fat Track Mar 03, 2021 11:02pm
Amazon can guess estimated loss if shunted out of India
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On point Mar 03, 2021 11:04pm
@marquis de sade u sound stupid here . It’s not about a Muslim portraying , it’s about the content . Get ur facts right before making a fool out of yourself here .
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Well wisher Mar 03, 2021 11:29pm
@F Nawaz Modiphobia is understood.
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Debkumar Barendrapunggab Mar 03, 2021 11:36pm
Why those contradicted scenes are making for cheap publicity?
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richie Mar 04, 2021 12:08am
@From BD with Love and we are loving it, payback time\ karma
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Sambit Bal Mar 04, 2021 12:09am
@Gaurav you never know, Kashmiri Muslims will ask the actor to apologize for playing the role of a Hindu prince and parying to Lord Krishna
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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali Mar 04, 2021 01:06am
Hitler's adopted Hindutva doctrine of India's Modi won today. Amazon facilitated the supremacy doctrine for few dollars from Indian consumers. Maybe this is good business but is a rotten mentality, indeed.
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RationalBabu Mar 04, 2021 01:07am
@Savera I have been watching Bollywood films for decades and have not seen a single one depicting hatred against any religion. In case you wondered I am not particularly religious or a BJP fan!
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Shahid Mar 04, 2021 01:43am
Nazi India in action! Indians have double standards. On the one side they talk about peace and unity of humanity and on the other they are narrow minded and spew hatred when something does not go their way.
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Ibrahim S Mar 04, 2021 02:18am
@saqib , I can't agree more. Might is right
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Ibrahim S Mar 04, 2021 02:21am
I guess, we are missing a point. This movie was made within India and their own actors for Indian audience . What if Hollywood or HBO makes a similar movie in USA or Europe. What would you do Modi Ji.
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Vijay B. Mar 04, 2021 02:54am
i would venture to opine that firstly by naming his first son "Timur" and then now this webinar "tandav" Amir khan has rung the death knoll of his movie career. this his swan song and he will not be missed saving the public and himself the agony of being shunned publicly. He will be boycotted with a vengeance never previously beheld..
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Vijay B. Mar 04, 2021 03:03am
seems like it is the end of the line not only for Amir khan the principal character in the webinar :Tandav" but also the other much touted Khans, Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan. There is huge and forceful movement afoot in all of India to boycott all the movies with the Khans.
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Vijay B. Mar 04, 2021 03:10am
Amir Khan, your days as a movie star are numbered.
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Chacha Jee Mar 04, 2021 03:33am
Indians have learned to react non-violently but collectively. Look at China, how its Army dismantled its Armed Infrastructure and ran away. Why..because of Indian civil society's call for boycott of Chinese products and deleting Chinese APPs. Same happened to Amazon, probably the number 1 company in world. It simply got scared of public boycott. And, a lesson for Muslims in Bollywood if the wish comment on Hindu Religion then they should expect similar comments on their religion too. These so called Muslims Intellectuals are creating France or Myanmar like situation in India for themselves.
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Chacha Jee Mar 04, 2021 03:45am
@Rick Indians want to be Secular no more. India's experiment with Secularism involving Muslims has miserably failed. There are other minorities in India who live peacefully and have progressed more than Hindu, have One wife and 2 Children and do not complain. India had carved a separate country for Muslims called Pakistan. Now, Indians wonder why Muslims are in their country after 1947. That is whole Hindu Muslim conflict in India. Muslims claim they are Indians and Indians say, No, you are not. Other countries in similar situation with Muslims like Myanmar, China, Russia, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Isreal and now Armenia gave no Pakistan to their Muslims and solved their issue.
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Silent Observer Mar 04, 2021 05:05am
The Hypocracy of RSS is out in the open, yet once again!!!
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Malik Mar 04, 2021 06:05am
Pakistan is becoming more modern while India is going more backward.
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Ali Khan Mar 04, 2021 07:14am
The world probably needs a whole set of new rules just so that India doesn't get upset
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Rach Mar 04, 2021 07:25am
@Rick How it is related to secularism. Get educated first before commenting on secularism.
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Fastrack Mar 04, 2021 08:39am
@Savera no bollywod is muslim dominated
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Pradeep Mar 04, 2021 04:26pm
What is the point in issuing an apology? Once insult has been made, it still remains an insult even after issuing an apology
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