Latest internet sensation Priya Prakash Varrier, whose wink created ripples across the internet, has reportedly enraged a group of Muslim youth from Hyderabad who alleged that the song 'Manikya Malaraya Poovi' hurts their religious sentiments.
A complaint was filed on Tuesday night at Falaknuma Police Station against the makers of the song from Oru Adaar Love (A Superb Love).
"Following the complaint, we took legal opinion and subsequently a case under IPC section 295A (hurting religious sentiments) has been registered against the film's director, Omar Lulu," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Falaknuma division) Syed Fayaz told PTI.
As part of their investigation, the police will take the opinion of some Islamic clerics on this after getting a translation of the song, he said.
"We will proceed based on their opinion... If the song has really hurt the sentiments then definitely action will be initiated against those involved," the ACP said.
The first song of Oru Adaar Love became viral on social media within few hours of its release. The song, Manikya Malaraya Poovi was released on YouTube on February 9.
The complainant Muqueet Khan who spoke to CNN News18, said that the song was about Prophet Mohammad. "I tried to sing the song and when I checked the translation, it was about Prophet Mohammad. A girl and boy are romancing but linking background with religious sentiments," he was quoted as saying by the channel.
A Kerala Muslim cleric has also asked to remove the winking scene from the viral Malayalam song. The cleric, Navas Mannani appears to be particularly irked by Priya’s winking scene. "Remove that scene from the song and the film," he said.
"The film picturises a song about the love between the Prophet and his wife in the backdrop of a new generation campus and shows the love between a boy and a girl with eye gestures. The Prophet and his wife could be misunderstood by this," he said.
"I may get a lot of bashing for what I am saying. But, as a cleric, it’s my duty to say this. We should discourage things that portray prophet and his wife in poor light."
He also said that the prophet was not against songs that are binding to sharia law. He said the prophet used to sing and enjoy songs. “Prophet had even given gifts to singers. But Islam strongly opposes anti-Islamic titillating songs, or songs that are for worldly pleasures. Islam has forbidden songs with music even if that is binding to sharia laws. The prophet has said that music will make people hypocrites,” he said.
The song that was originally penned by PMA Jabbar in year 1978 has been a popular Maapila Paattu since then. The song is in praise of Prophet's first wife.
The director of the film Omar Lulu, however, has said that there is nothing wrong with the song. "There is nothing against Islam or Muslims. It is a very old love song sung by all communities," he was quoted as saying by the channel.
The clip, featuring Priya boldly winking at her classmate during a school function, has gone viral on social media, spawning countless memes in its wake.
