Web show maker apology

THE cast and crew of a new streaming series starring actor Saif Ali Khan have apologised after ruling politicians called the show insensitive to Hindus.

The Amazon Prime political drama Tandav drew criticism from members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after its release last Friday (15).

Several BJP politicians called for the show to be removed, saying it was “deliberately mocking Hindu gods” and disrespecting their sentiments.

One of the criticised scenes depicts a university play in which a character playing the part of Hindu deity Shiva talks about ‘azaadi’ (freedom). It was a rallying cry from last year’s anti-government protests in Delhi.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told the cast and crew it received “a large number of grievances and petitions... with serious concerns and apprehensions” over the series, director Ali Abbas Zafar wrote on Monday (18).