Netizens slam director Leena Manimekalai for movie poster exhibiting Goddess Kaali smoking

By ANI

NEW DELHI: A poster for a documentary directed by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai has drawn flak on social media ‘for hurting non secular sentiments’ with the depiction of Goddess Kaali.

The Madurai-born, Toronto-based filmmaker had earlier taken to Twitter to share a poster of her documentary movie ‘Kaali’ which depicted a girl wearing a dressing up portraying the goddess and smoking. A flag of the LGBT neighborhood is seen within the background.

The movie was a part of the “Rhythms of Cananda” phase on the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, in response to a tweet by the filmmaker.

Super thrilled to share the launch of my latest movie – immediately at @AgaKhanMuseum as a part of its “Rhythms of Canada”
Link: https://t.co/RAQimMt7Ln

I made this efficiency doc as a cohort of https://t.co/D5ywx1Y7Wu@YorkuAMPD @TorontoMet @YorkUFGS

Feeling pumped with my CREW pic.twitter.com/L8LDDnctC9

— Leena Manimekalai (@LeenaManimekali) July 2, 2022

“Super thrilled to share the launch of my recent film – today at @AgaKhanMuseumas part of its ‘Rhythms of Canada’. Feeling pumped with my CREW,” Leena tweeted.

The portrayal of Goddess Kaali within the poster didn’t go down nicely with a bit of social media customers who’ve demanded the poster be withdrawn.

Some even demanded strict motion in opposition to her and the hashtag ‘#ArrestLeenaManimekal’ is trending on Twitter.

“Leena Manimekalai a filmmaker portraying Hindu God as cigarettes smokers. She is Insulting Maa Kaali,” a Twitterati wrote.

Some even demanded strict motion in opposition to her. 

After receiving flak on social media, Leena has restricted feedback on her Instagram.

She took to Twitter to submit in Tamil: “The film revolves around the events that take place one evening when Kali appears and strolls the streets of Toronto. If you see the picture, don’t put the hashtag “arrest Leena manimekalai” but put the hashtag “love you Leena manimekalai”.”

A screengrab of Leena Manimekalai’s tweet

Several movies and exhibits have previously acquired into hassle for allegedly hurting non secular sentiments. Anurag Basu’s ‘Ludo’ confronted Twitterati’s ire for purportedly selling ‘Hinduphobic’ content material within the film.

In 2021, Saif Ali Khan-starrer net sequence ‘Taandav’ raked up a row for allegedly making a risk of non secular stress by portraying Hindu Gods in a foul mild.