Supreme Court cancels criminal proceeding against Malayalam actor Priya Prakash Varrier

The Supreme Court cancelled FIR registered against Malayalam actress Priya Prakash Varrier and the makers of the movie Oru Adaar Love which said that the popular wink scene from the movie hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community.

The court had earlier ordered a stay on the complaints filed. Reports suggested that a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud sent a message to the fringe groups demanding a ban on the song ‘Manikya Malaraya Poovi’ from the film.

The film had landed in trouble because of a number of complaints against it for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community.

The Supreme Court also asked the state governments of Maharashtra and Telangana to not entertain any complaints against the makers regarding the contents of the song. Priya Varrier then asked the apex court to intervene and said that the complaints are an attack on freedom of speech and expression.

The first complaint was filed by Muqeeth Khan which alleged that when the lyrics of the song are translated to English, they are an insult to Prophet Muhammad. This was followed by a letter written by the controversial fringe group Raza Academy in Mumbai. The letter was written to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and demanded the imposition of a ban on the song.

Several reports also suggested that the premier organisation for Islamic laws, Darul Ifta Jamia Nizamia, issued a fatwa against the song and its lyrics.

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