- Thursday, March 13, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
DAYS after a controversial remark against Prophet Muhammad by a former member of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sparked a massive controversy which even had repercussions beyond the international border, a fresh row has emerged in the Hindu-majority nation and this time, a goddess of the majority community is at the centre of the discussion.
On Saturday (2), film director Leena Manimekalai tweeted the poster of her new film ‘Kaali’ described as a “performance documentary” and it showed a woman dressed as Hindu goddess Kali and smoking a cigarette.
ALSO READ: ‘Kaali’ poster row: Indian high commission in Canada asks officials to remove ‘provocative material’
Super thrilled to share the launch of my recent film – today at @AgaKhanMuseum as part of its “Rhythms of Canada”
Link: https://t.co/RAQimMt7LnI 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
Hundreds of Hindus have lashed out at Manimekalai since the poster was shared online and accused her of offending their religious sentiments.
Kali is a widely worshipped goddess in India. They also slammed the filmmaker for showing Kali with an LGBT flag.
On Monday (4), Manimekalai’s name trended on social media as many sought her arrest. #ArrestLeenaManimekalai trended on the social media platform as well. Police reports were filed against the filmmaker and one social user asked how they could use
The Tamil Nadu-born filmmaker, port and actor, who is currently studying in Canada, told the BBC that the goddess she depicted in her film “champions humanity and embraces diversity”.
“As a poet and filmmaker, I embody Kaali in my own independent vision,” she said.
Manimekalai is among 18 graduate students who were chosen under a programme managed by Canada’s Toronto Metropolitan University for works on multiculturalism.
The film, according to her, is a “candid shoot” of herself dressed up as the Hindu goddess and walking in downtown Toronto.
“In my film, Kaali chooses me as a spirit, holds a Pride flag and a camera in her hands and meets the First Nations (indigenous people), the People of African, Asian, Persian descent, the Jews, the Christians, the Muslims and the mini-universe that one can capture across any cross-section of Canada,” the filmmaker was quoted as saying by the BBC.
It is not the first time that a deity has featured in a film of Manimekalai. Her 2007 documentary ‘Goddesses’ was screened at film festivals in Mumbai and Munich. ‘Maadathy – An Unfairy Tale’ is a 2019 film by Manimekalai which is about a fictional story of how a young girl hailing from a marginalised caste group is immortalised as a deity, BBC added.
Here is how the Twitter reacted to the controversy:
What's wrong with the people? We are not killing anyone, we are not troubling anyone, we are not doing anything wrong, then why is this happening to us. Why only with Hindus?#Kaali #ArrestLeenaManimekali #Hinduphobic #HindusUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/fTdXsFoyQZ
— Abhay Singh Rajput (@ThakurAbhaySi18) July 4, 2022
Does insulting Hindu Gods come under freedom of expression ?
Arrest #LeenaManimekalai for showing Maa #Kaali smoking cigarette & carrying LGBTQ flag in her movie poster.Sign this petition. Help draw the government's attention to take action – pic.twitter.com/SB2TP1XTgX #Kaali
— हिन्दू राष्ट्र ?? (@hindura24850554) July 4, 2022
#Kaali #ArrestLeenaManimekali#LeenaManimekalai
1. Showing reality is propaganda & Islamophobic
2. Showing Hindu Gods in derogatory manners is Freedom of Speech pic.twitter.com/XHm3hPSkoY— Sunita Vaidya (@SunitaVaidya4) July 4, 2022
#ArrestLeenaManimekalai
For insulting #Kaali
And hurting religious sentiments https://t.co/U6KA6rRE8G— Sevak Anil Kumar (@sevak_anil) July 4, 2022
It is unfortunate that Hindu sensibilities are taken for granted across the world, so Hindus sincerely hope that Government of India will take the necessary steps to safeguard Hindu interests. Please sign below petition :https://t.co/agANYOGslH#Kaali#LeenaManimekalai pic.twitter.com/vnxBySVy7D
— Soumya Baliga (@BaligaSoumya) July 4, 2022
That's why Bollywood is totally waste
They don't know Mindset of today india
They never prmote real facts about ancient bharat #Kaali #BoycottbollywoodForever #RSS pic.twitter.com/QSidyPuiBt— KOTHARI (@KOTHARI39587335) July 4, 2022
#Kaali
Hindu God insulted by @LeenaManimekaliWe oppose…#ArrestLeenaManimekalai pic.twitter.com/F8FkuPsTsu
— INCGaya (@incGaya1) July 4, 2022
Police complaint filed against Kaali director #LeenaManimekalai for ‘highly objectionable’ poster
https://t.co/505jT3gudJ#Kaali— ?Shambhu ?? © (@Shambhu_HJS) July 4, 2022
Hearting Hindu Sentiments Has Now Become A Free Promotional Strategy For Film Makers …?#Kaali#ArrestLeenaManimekali
— Aman Sahu? (@AmanSah01793031) July 4, 2022
#Kaali @LeenaManimekali the person like you with zero talent needs cheap publicity. And you proved it..you are an big idiot ..#ArrestLeenaManimekali
— Nirav ?? (@Niravdabang) July 4, 2022
