Leena Manimekalai, a Tamil filmmaker living in Canada, was thrust into the spotlight last week. After sharing a poster for her documentary film "Kaali" in which a lady dressed as the goddess "Kaali". She is pictured smoking a cigarette and carrying a pride flag. She was shocked to learn that the Hindu community objected to the poster since it featured a depiction of their beloved goddess. Following this, a number of things happened. Including social media uproar, and calls for her arrest. and many FIRs being filed against Leena around the nation.
Police in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have filed criminal complaints against the filmmaker. She is hurting the feelings of millions of Hindus worldwide. In response to criticism of the poster, the Madhya Pradesh police issued a lookout notice for Leena.
Leena refused to give in to the doubters and the matter is still far from being solved. The Indian High Commission responded by pleading with the Canadian government to take down the derogatory portrayal of a Hindu goddess. That was on display as part of the 'Under the Tent' project at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. The museum's administrators then expressed regret for offending Hindus' religious feelings. The Museum is no longer showing the presentation. The social media post that went along with it may have unintentionally offended people of the Hindu and other faith communities.
Leena explains “My Kaali is inspired by Tamil and Telugu village rituals. She comes on people as a spirit and eats meat, smokes ganja, drinks country arrack, urinates in the middle of the village, spits on filth, and dances wild. Kaali in my film chooses to love and champions humanity. She embraces people from varied ethnicities, races, and colors while she walks across the streets of downtown Toronto,” she said to The Wire.
