After Kaali poster sparks outrage online, filmmaker says ‘use #loveyouleenamanimekalai’

The 'Kaali' poster sparked outrage online with many demanding her arrest, accusing her of hurting religious sentiments.

The poster shared by the filmmaker shows a woman dressed as the Hindu Goddess Kali smoking a cigarette and holding a pride flag. (Source: LeenaManimekalai/Twitter)

Independent filmmaker Leena Manimekalai drew flak online days after she tweeted the poster of her latest documentary Kaali. The poster tweeted last Saturday shows a woman dressed as the Hindu Goddess Kali smoking a cigarette and holding a pride flag representing the LGBT community in her hand.

The Kaali poster sparked outrage online with many demanding her arrest, accusing her of hurting religious sentiments. Soon, #Arrestleenamanimekalai started trending on Twitter.

Following the reaction on social media, Canada-based Manimekalai urged users to use the hashtag “love you Leena manimekalai” instead of “#arrest Leena manimekalai”. “The film revolves around the events that take place one evening, when Kali appears and strolls the streets of Toronto. If you see the picture, don’t put the hashtag ‘arrest Leena manimekalai’ and put the hashtag ‘love you Leena manimekalai'” read the filmmaker’s tweet, roughly translated from Tamil, on Monday.

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“I have nothing to lose. I want to be with a voice that speaks without fear of anything until it is. If the price is my life, I will give it,” she added in another tweet in Tamil.

“எனக்கு இழப்பதற்கு ஒன்றுமில்லை. இருக்கும் வரை எதற்கும் அஞ்சாமல் நம்புவதைப் பேசும் குரலோடு இருந்துவிட விரும்புகிறேன். அதற்கு விலை என் உயிர் தான் என்றால் தரலாம்” https://t.co/fEU3sWY4HK

— Leena Manimekalai (@LeenaManimekali) July 4, 2022

Kaali was first screened during Rhythms of Canada, a week-long festival celebrating multiculturalism, at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto last weekend. “Super thrilled to share the launch of my recent film – today at @AgaKhanMuseu as part of its “Rhythms of Canada”@YorkuAMPD @TorontoMet @YorkUFGS Feeling pumped with my CREW,” she tweeted.

Manimekalai, who belongs to the Maharajapuram village in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar, has internationally acclaimed films Madathi and Sengadal the Dead Sea to her credit.