A Suitable Boy: MP Minister Orders Probe In Temple Kissing Scene In Netflix's Series

A Suitable Boy controversy: Madhya Pradesh Home Minister directed the state police to examine the series and initiate legal action against the makers for showing a kissing scene in a temple.

Image courtesy - Ishaan Khatter (@ishaankhatter/Instagram)

New Delhi: BBC television drama ‘A Suitable Boy’, which recently started streaming on Netflix, landed into controversy after several social media users expressed their displeasure over a particular scene in the mini series. Netizens called out the makers for airing a scene in which a Hindu girl kissed a Muslim guy in a temple. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that he has asked the state police to examine the series to check if the kissing sequence were filmed in a temple. Mishra also hinted that legal action might be taken against the makers of 'A Suitable Boy'. In a video statement on Sunday, Mishra said that kissing scenes were filmed in a temple while bhajans were being played in the background. He added, "I think it hurts feelings. I have instructed the police officials to examine the series and determine what action can be initiated against the makers of the series." In his caption, Mishra wrote that the series depicted 'objectionable scenes' which hurt the 'sentiments' of a particular religion.

An office-bearer of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) lodged a complaint with the Rewa superintendent of the police. In his complaint, he claimed the the kissing sequences in the series were shot in a temple in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh,  a report in PTI said. While the MP government has ordered a probe, several netizens raised their objections on Twitter by trending the hashtag #BoycottNetflix. They threatened to boycott the leading OTT platform for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The scene created hullabaloo on social media as many users accused the producers of promoting 'love jihad'. 'A Suitable Boy', based on Vikram Seth's novel of the same name, has been directed by Mira Nair. Nair is known for directing like 'Salaam Bombay' and 'Monsoon Wedding'. The series features Ishaan Khatter, Tanya Maniktala, Tabu, Rasika Duggal, and Ram Kapoor in key roles. The  against the backdrop of North India in the early 1950s Watch this space for more updates!