FIR filed against Priya Varrier’s viral song for ‘hurting’ Muslim sentiments

The Hyderabad police on Wednesday booked the makers of upcoming Malayalam film Oru Adaar Love over a song that has “objectionable references” to a love story between Prophet Mohammad and his wife Khadijah Bivi in Mecca.

The song, Manikya Malaraya Poovi, featuring overnight internet sensation Priya Prakash Varrier, has gone viral since it was launched a few days ago. The film’s director, Omar Lulu, however, denied that the song is objectionable.

The Falaknuma police in the old city filed a case against the makers under section 295 A of Indian Penal Code (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) based on a complaint from Mohammed Abdul Muqeeth Khan and some other Muslim youths, Hyderabad deputy commissioner of police (south zone) V Satyanarayana said.

“The police are meticulously investigating the case and appropriate action would be taken against the concerned as per the facts and law,” the DCP said.

Earlier in the day, the Muslim youths lodged a complaint with the police demanding a ban on the song from the Malayalam film for the objectionable references in the lyrics to Prophet Mohammad and his wife Khadijah Bivi.

Although they did not understand the lyrics in Malayalam, the complainants said they found references to the Prophet’s wife in a translation of the song, which they said hurt the sentiments of Muslims.

They attached a copy of the original song and its English translation along with the complaint filed at Falaknuma police station in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The complainant, Khan, an engineering student, denied lodging the complaint for the sake of publicity.

He said he tried to understand the lyrics and then realised that it has reference to Khadija Bivi, wife of Prophet Mohammad.

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