Ali Abbas Zafar issues apology after his web series Tandav creates political uproar

The makers of web series ‘Tandav’ on Amazon Prime Video Monday issued an unconditional apology for “unintentionally” hurting sentiments of the public over some scenes depicting Hindu deities in a ‘bad light’. This comes after an FIR was registered against the makers of the show and Amazon India head at Hazratganj police station of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh earlier today. The official statement read, “We have been closely monitoring viewer reaction to the web series ‘Tandav’ and today during a discussion, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have informed us regarding a large number of grievances and petitions received on various facets of the web series with serious concerns and apprehensions regarding its content hurting the sentiments of the people.

Our sincere apologies . pic.twitter.com/Efr9s0kYnl

— ali abbas zafar (@aliabbaszafar) January 18, 2021

The web series ‘Tandav’ is a work of fiction and any resemblance to acts and persons and events is purely coincidental. The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead. The cast and crew of ‘Tandav’ take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologize if it has unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments.”Tandav, a political drama series streaming on Amazon Prime Video, has created a furore over its alleged portrayal of Hindu deities in a ‘bad light’ and use of ‘casteist scenes and dialogues’. Earlier today, an FIR was registered against Amazon India original content head Aparna Purohit, series director Ali Abbas Zafar, producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki and others at the Hazratganj police station of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.  Meanwhile, given the controversy and the outrage, security has been beefed up outside Saif Ali Khan’s house in Mumbai.