Malayalam actor trolled for eating beef on TV show
National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi would never have thought a shoot about her favourite delicacies would land her in trouble.
Lakshmi found herself at the receiving end of abuse on social media when a programme showing her eating beef at one of her favourite restaurants in Kozhikode was aired on Onam.
In the programme aired on Media One TV, the actor was seen tasting Malabar ‘parotta’ with beef curry at the restaurant in her native town.
A day after Onam, she also posted an image of the ‘sadya’ (feast) on Facebook, which included a chicken dish on a plantain leaf.
“Your activities never suit your name. Better change your name. You have certain agenda in eating beef,” a troll said on social media.
“You would do whatever dirty things for money. Take pork next time, that will suit you better,” another commented.
The abusers alleged that the actor hurt their sentiments as only vegetarian dishes were served on Onam.
“You insulted your own community. You don’t deserve to be a Hindu,” said another. Trolls also attacked the channel, alleging that it deliberately aired the programme on Onam to hurt religious sentiments of Hindus.
Though Lakshmi refused to file a complaint, the state youth commission asked police to book those who threatened her.
Brushing aside all criticism, the actor said a person’s food habit and choice was his/her right.
She added that the programme was shot at least two weeks before Onam and clarified that in Malabar (north Kerala), people usually include non-vegetarian dishes in Onam feast.
“My food habit is my choice. I don’t know how it will hurt others,” she said.
Reacting to the incident, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Onam was beyond the framework of any religion or caste.
“There is no barrier on any food in Kerala. In south Kerala people prefer vegetarian food during Onam but in north, the feast is incomplete without a nonvegetarian dish. This variety and diversity makes Kerala more beautiful,” the chief minister said in a Facebook post.