‘Boycott Netflix’, ‘Ban Maharaj Film’ trend
NEW DELHI: Hashtags like ‘Boycott Netflix’ and ‘Ban Maharaj Film’ trended on social media on Thursday with a section of users calling for a ban on ‘Maharaj’, claiming the upcoming period drama hurts religious sentiments.
The film, which premieres on Netflix on Friday, marks the debut of Bollywood star Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan. Hashtag ‘AamirKhan’ was also trending on X.
According to the makers, “Maharaj “is set in pre-independent India and is based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, which was ignited by “allegations of misconduct by a prominent figure.”
Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and produced by Aditya Chopra under YRF Entertainment, the movie also stars Jaideep Ahlawat.In an unusual move, the movie being released on the streamer without any promotions. No teaser or trailers have been put out by the makers for the film, barring a poster featuring Jaideep and Junaid.
They are standing side by side with Ahlawat’s character sporting a ‘tilak’ on his forehead while Junaid’s character, reportedly a journalist, is dressed in a waistcoat.
VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi was one of the many X users who called for a ban on ‘Maharaj.’.
“Won’t tolerate the disrespect of Sanatan Dharma (Sanatan Dharma ka apmaan sehen nahin karenge). Ban Maharaj Film. #BoycottNetflix,” Prachi wrote on the microblogging site.According to a press release issued by Netflix last month, ‘Maharaj’ follows Karsandas Mulji, a journalist and social reformer, who was a pioneering advocate for women’s rights and social reform.
A student at Elphinstone College in Mumbai and a protege of the scholar-leader Dadabhai Naoroji, Mulji wrote on widow remarriage, stood up for the oppressed, and sowed the seeds of reform in society.