Hindu nationalists have burnt effigies of film stars in protest over a sexy dance routine in an Indian film that showed an actress wearing a saffron.as the Indian actress Deepika Padukone dances in sexy beachwear in the video.
The 36-year-old throws back her hips in beachwear during a musical segment of the Bollywood film Pathaan, saying: ‘The moment I feel a wave of modesty, I throw it to the wind. The world hasn’t seen my true colours.’
The music video was too much for Narottam Mishra, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister in Madhya Pradesh who said ‘the film Pathaan has been shot with a dirty mindset’.
But it wasn’t her dancing that offended the minister. He took offence at the colour of her dress — a saffron hue traditionally usually worn by Hindu saints.
‘The costumes in the song at first glance are objectionable,’ Mishra told reporters.
For the use of Saffron garments commonly associated with asceticism, a lifestyle followed by holy figures who abstain from sensual pleasures. This has sparked anger among Hindus.
Offended viewers filed a complaint against the actors for offending religious sentiments in an attempt to get the Broadcasting Ministry to censor the film.
#BoycottPathaan trended on social media following the backlash.
Footage has since emerged showing protesters burning pictures of Shah Rukh Khan, who directed the film.
Following the controversy surrounding his film, Khan was quoted in NDTV as saying: ‘Social media is often driven by a certain narrowness of view that limits human nature to its baser self.
‘I read somewhere that negativity increases social media consumption and thereby increases its commercial value as well. Such pursuits enclose the collective narrative, making it divisive and destructive.’
The music video, sung in a mix of Hindu and Spanish, is being used to promote the action film, set to come out next month.
