Amazon – Salman Khan Hitmaker Ali Abbas Zafar Returns With Amazon‘s ‘Tandav’
Ali Abbas Zafar’s explosive Amazon Prime Video India political drama “Tandav,” which started streaming Jan. 15, has drawn the ire of Hindu nationalist lawmakers.
Manoj Kotak, a member of parliament from Mumbai, has written to India’s data and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar, asking for a ban on “Tandav,” accusing the inventive workforce — during which the chief creators are Muslim — of “deliberately mocking Hindu Gods,” and disrespecting “Hindu religious sentiments.”
Set in Delhi and performed out like an Indian “House of Cards,” “Tandav” contains a numerous set of characters scheming for political energy. The present has a ripped-from-the-headlines plot that fearlessly takes on occasions just like the 2019 scholar rebellion in India and systemic marginalization of minority communities, all whereas taking potshots at dynastic rule. Though the present tried to veer away from antagonizing the ruling Hindu nationalist authorities, the scandal suggests it hasn’t been as profitable because it may need hoped.
Selection understands that the scene on the heart of the storm is the place actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, who’s Muslim, portrays the Hindu God Shiva in a stage play.
My letter to Hon.minister @PrakashJavdekar ji relating to regulation of the OTT platforms pic.twitter.com/twwI6OP4iM
— Manoj Kotak (@manoj_kotak) January 17, 2021
Kotak, who belongs to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP), additionally known as for a authorities regulatory authority to control Indian streamers. The sector is at present self-regulated however falls beneath the purview of the I&B ministry.
In the meantime, a number of different BJP leaders have additionally objected to the present, and celebration member Ram Kadam has filed a criticism with the police towards the makers.
Filed criticism towards Tandav Net Sequence at Ghatkopar police station.
Police has assured fast investigation, FIR beneath Sec 295A of IPC, Part 67A of IT Act & Atrocities Act.Producer, Director, Author, Actors & Amazon to be summoned quickly.#BanTandavNow #Boycottandav pic.twitter.com/Apg0hNYZgJ— Ram Kadam – राम कदम (@ramkadam) January 17, 2021
Kadam tweeted: “Why is it becoming a trend amongst films and web series makers to demean Hindu gods? Latest culprit seems to be the series #Tandav. #SaifAliKhan again part of a film or series which attempts to target Hindu deities. Director Ali Abbas Zafar needs to remove that scene which mocks Hindu God Shiva. Actor Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub needs to apologise and Tandav should be boycotted until necessary changes are made. #BoycottTandav.”
Amazon declined to remark.
Zafar is the director of Bollywood hits “Sultan,” “Tiger Zinda Hai” and “Bharat,” starring celebrity Salman Khan.
“I just wanted to do something which was set in the middle of Indian politics, but in a very theatrical, Shakespearean way,” Zafar advised Selection, in an interview previous to the BJP complaints. Zafar cites the social and emotional politics in performs as numerous as “Othello,” “Macbeth,” “Julius Caesar,” and even “Romeo and Juliet” and says that so long as there may be energy and exploitation of energy, political themes are timeless.
“This show could be placed in the U.S. or UK. or Russia or the Middle East or anywhere else in the world — you could just change the names of the characters and the way they act and the way they use or misuse the power would be exactly the same, hence Shakespeare,” says Zafar.
The thought got here to Zafar on the heels of his second movie “Gunday” (2014), whereas he was ready for Salman Khan’s dates for “Sultan.” Initially designed as a movie, Zafar and his author Gaurav Solanki (“Article 15”) developed the story by the method of two extra Khan movies, “Tiger Zinda Hai” and “Bharat” and got here to the conclusion that it wanted an extended platform. And that’s when Amazon got here into the image.
“Ours is a country that is obsessed with politics: there’s politics in everything that we do, even our relationships,” Aparna Purohit, head of India originals at Amazon, advised Selection, additionally previous to the BJP complaints.
“It’s a story about ambition, about people you see on television, read about in the newspapers, but you don’t really get an insight into their minds, the machinations and manipulations, the schemes, the personal relationships and how those get impacted in all of this. That is what really drew us,” provides Purohit.
“Tandav” boasts a heavyweight forged together with Saif Ali Khan (“Sacred Games”), Dimple Kapadia (“Tenet”), Tigmanshu Dhulia (“Gangs of Wasseypur”), Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub (“Article 15”), Sunil Grover (“Bharat”), Sandhya Mridul (“Nirvana Inn”), Kumud Mishra (“Ram Singh Charlie”) and Sarah Jane Dias (“Zubaan”).
“There is a more subtle side to Ali’s storytelling that has come out in this format,” says Khan. “It was great collaborating with him. He knows that a populist story needs a slightly different weight of hand to narrate the story. It needs a lighter and a different touch at certain places and I am glad that everything is taken care of. He has been one of the best directors to work with who has a great cinematic vision.”
The sequence is produced by Himanshu Kishan Mehra and Zafar’s Offside Leisure.
Subsequent up for Zafar is a reboot of iconic 1987 movie “Mr. India,” which was directed by Shekhar Kapur (“Elizabeth”) and starred Anil Kapoor (“Slumdog Millionaire”) and the late Sridevi. When requested if he has any additional tasks with Salman Khan developing, Zafar cryptically says, “Right now, I’ve still not cast ‘Mr. India,’ so I cannot say anything.”
