It's outrage week for BJP supporters in Tamil Nadu, with two TV shows on separate channels causing "offence".
The first is Tamil TV show Kalakka Povadhu Yaaru which airs on Vijay TV. The show has come under ire from BJP supporters after a recent episode satirized PM Narendra Modi and took a dig at Hindi imposition in the state. Moreover, the show has been accused of promoting "secessionist" politics.
The second is Enga Veetu Mappillai on Colors Tamil, a reality TV show in which actor Arya is expected to pick a bride from 16 contestants. BJP leaders and supporters in the state are outraged about the show and says it supports "love jihad".
The special guest on Kalakka Povadhu Yaaru was director Seeman and the theme was political satire.
In the performance put up by contestants Sivabalan and Bhuvaneshwari, Sivabalan dresses up as a Maharani. When the anchor tells the queen that the "Maharaja" has gone abroad, she's unperturbed and says, "It's a shocking news only if he doesn't go out of the country, it's not a shocking news if he does go."
The anchor then tells the queen that the Maharaja has tweeted that she must rule in his absence. Her response to this is, "This has become his routine, to put something on Twitter, wear his sweater, and go." Seeman, the judges, and the audience can be seen laughing uproariously.
As part of her new job as the ruler of the kingdom, the queen meets with a businessman (Bhuvaneshwari) from an MNC. The contestants go on to take potshots at the culture of bending low to seek blessings from politicians and the practice of distributing freebies to fool voters. There are also some obvious hits at the corruption that the state has seen over the years in the name of constructing public projects. These are certainly aimed at the Dravidian parties in the state.
Then comes the bit which has riled up BJP supporters. The queen asks the businessman how Tamil Nadu can progress. To this, the businessman says, "Tamil Nadu? Isn't your 'nadu' (country) India?". The queen shoots back saying, "It was, but ever since they tried to make it Hindia, we've also changed."
While the participants did not limit themselves to a particular political party but took digs across the board (including new entrant Kamal Haasan), this clip has been shared by several users, accusing the show and Vijay TV of promoting "secessionism".
The supporters have been tweeting with the hashtag #WeHateVijayTV, while alleging that the show is "anti-India".
Why can't I&B ministry take action on these channel. Time to have censor board also. All tamil news channels should be banned as they spread fake news n provacative.@narendramodi@HRajaBJP#WeHateVijayTV
— Sai Sakthi (@stopconversion) March 5, 2018
It's missionary funded Tv #WeHateVijayTv
— SenthilKumar AK (@senthil_ak) March 6, 2018
#WeHateVijayTv
— Ajith kumar (@AjithKumar858) March 5, 2018
A very stupid show by Vijay TV insulting our Prime minister Modi ji . Vijay TV have gone to a low level.
#WeHateVijayTV shame on u anti indian TV channel, anti Hindu, anti BJp @rammadhavbjp @rajnathsingh @narendramodi_in
— Arunkolappan (@arunkolappan) March 6, 2018
Book @vijaytvshows in sedition charges. #WeHateVijayTV. Looks like this separatists attitude is a by product of panel and trying to impress #Seeman. Foreign funded Vijay TV. Must check the funds
— AVSR (@GarvHinduAR) March 5, 2018
Watch the show here.
Meanwhile, actor Varalaxmi Sarathkumar made an appearance on Enga Veetu Mappillai, the Tamil version of the reality TV show The Bachelor, to interact with the prospective brides. Since actor Arya is a Muslim - his real name is Jamshad - one of the questions she asks the women on a one-on-one basis is, "Jammy (Arya) will not expect it, but if he does, will you be willing to change your religion?"
While some of them readily say that they will change their religion, others give a more measured response.
H Raja, National Secretary of the BJP, endorsed a user's tweet accusing the channel of "love jihad". H Raja, in his retweet, also added, "If we ask this then we are dubbed communal. This is shameless and despicable."
If we ask this then we are dubbed communal. This is shameless and despicable. https://t.co/FArr7BOgod
— H Raja (@HRajaBJP) March 6, 2018
Watch the show here.