Boycott Tandav call | Web series hurts Hindu sentiments, Saif Ali Khan must apologise: BJP leader Ram Kadam

A screengrab of the scene from Amazon Prime's Tandav featuring actor Zeeshan Ayyub, which has allegedly hurt Hindu sentiments

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Kadam has called for a boycott of the web series ‘Tandav’ featuring Bollywood stars Saif Ali Khan and Dimple Kapadia among others, for “hurting Hindu sentiments”.

Taking to Twitter on January 17, Ram Kadam wrote: “Why are Hindu gods and goddesses being disrespected through various films and web series? The latest example is the web series Tandav. Saif Ali Khan is yet again a part of such series that hurts Hindu sentiments.”

He then said that “Director Ali Abbas Zafar will have to remove the part where Lord Shiva is being made fun of. Actor Zeshan Ayub will have to apologise, and the series will have to be boycotted at the earliest”. The BJP leader also said the director, the producer, and the actors must kneel down and apologise with folded hands.

आखिरकार क्यों हर बार फिल्मों और वेब सीरीज में हिन्दू देवी देवताओं को अपमानित करने का काम किया जाता है। ताजा उदाहरण नई वेब सीरीज 'तांडव' है। सैफ अली खान एक बार फिर ऐसी फिल्म या सिरीज़ का हिस्सा है जो हिन्दू भावनाओं को ठेस पहुचाता है। डायरेक्टर अली अब्बास जफर को सिरीज़ से भगवान pic.twitter.com/z35cHoiw9d

— Ram Kadam - राम कदम (@ramkadam) January 17, 2021

Kadam has further warned that he would approach the Mumbai Police to register a complaint against the Amazon Prime original series.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) has now summoned Amazon Prime India officials over the controversy surrounding the web series, reported news agency ANI. Earlier in the day, BJP MP Manoj Kotak had written to I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking a ban on Tandav for ridiculing Hindu Gods.

He had tweeted: "Filed complaint against Tandav Web Series at Ghatkopar police station. Police has assured quick investigation, FIR under Sec 295A of IPC, Section 67A of IT Act & Atrocities Act. Producer, Director, Writer, Actors and Amazon to be summoned soon. #BanTandavNow #Boycottandav."

Tandav, a political drama series starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Sarah-Jane Dias, Kritika Kamra, Sunil Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, and Kumud Mishra premiered on Amazon Prime Video on January 15. Despite the star-studded cast, the much-hyped show has failed to impress the Indian audience with its dark, grim portrayal of closed-door politics.