For parody based on Lord Ayyappa song, Kerala police book 3, claim ‘religious belief’ insulted
These include the writer, singer and producer of the song besides the company which shot the video. No one has been arrested yet
A case of road accident was registered that evening, sub-inspector Shiju P. Sam, who probed the case, said. Kerala Police Wednesday booked three people – a writer, a singer and a music producer — on charges of insulting religious belief and inciting groups to clash following the controversy over a parody number based on a popular Lord Ayyappa devotional song, which went viral during the recent local body elections in the wake of gold theft from the Sabarimala temple. A company that shot the video has also been named in the FIR.
No arrests have been made yet.
The cyber police station in Thiruvananthapuram registered the FIR based on a complaint from Prasad Kuzhikkala, general secretary of Thiruvabharanapatha Samrakshnana Samithi – an organisation tasked with protecting the traditional route through which the ornaments are taken in procession from Pandalam to Sabarimala.
Those listed in the FIR were Qatar-based expatriate writer G P Kunhabdulla Chalappuram, singer Danish Muhammed, CMC Media, which shot the video, and Subair Panthaloor, who produced it.
The accused were booked under sections 299 (outraging religious feelings) and 353 (1) C (inciting groups to clash and targeting to create fear among the public) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The FIR stated that the accused created the parody song with an intention to incite religious sentiments and provoke religious groups. They had insulted Ayyappa devotional song and Sarana Mantra, and circulated the song through social media and YouTube, it added.
The FIR comes close on the heels of the Kerala film festival row with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan terming the Centre’s alleged denial of censor exemption to screening of certain films, stating it reflected on “the authoritarian rule of the Sangh Parivar regime, which suppresses diverse voices and creative expressions in the country”. The CPI (M)-led government then decided to proceed with the screening of the films without waiting for the Centre’s nod.
The FIR over the song has drawn criticism from Opposition parties, which said the CPI(M) was afraid of parody. The Congress pointed out that even in the past, parody songs had been tuned after Ayyappa devotional songs. CPI(M)-backed Kairali TV had telecast the parody sung by actors Nadirsha and late Kalabhavan Mani, it said.
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