Netizens upset over the poster of ‘Kaali’ depicting the goddess smoking a cigarette

Mumbai (Maharashtra): Twitter has been in an uproar for the past few days demanding the arrest of filmmaker Leena Manimekalai after she revealed the poster of her upcoming film ‘Kaali’. The film was a part of the ‘Rhythms of Canada’ at Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum. The poster has been receiving severe backlash from the netizens as it depicts the goddess Kaali smoking what looks like a cigarette in front of the backdrop of an LGBTQIA+ flag. Several have also demanded the arrest of the filmmaker for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.

Users have trended the hashtag #arrestleenamanimekalai while expressing their disappointment in the film poster. One netizen wrote, “This is blasphemy and hurts Hindu religious sentiment. needs to take this down immediately” while another tagged PMO, Amit Shah and many others while stating, “Every day H!ndu religion is mocked, Is govt. testing our patience ?? Dear @AmitShah @HMOIndia @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia Please don't forget how we were questioned for hurting religious sentiments & needful action must be taken.”

Super thrilled to share the launch of my recent film - today at @AgaKhanMuseum as part of its “Rhythms of Canada”
Link: https://t.co/RAQimMt7Ln

I made this performance 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

Vineet Jindal, a Delhi-based advocate also filed a lawsuit in the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) of Delhi Police against Leena. ThePrint quoted the lawyer stating, “The poster by Leena is really derogatory and inflammatory in terms of religious sentiments. We cannot allow such objectionable pictures in movies.”

Reacting to the severe backlash, Leena invited everyone who objects to her poster to come and watch the movie. She further tweeted, “I have nothing to lose. As long as I am alive, I would like to voice, without fear, what I believe in. Even if my life is the cost.”