Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out against the controversy surrounding the internet sensation Manikya Malaraya Poovi – a song from the upcoming Malalayam movie Oru Adaar Love – saying “intolerance from any corner can’t be accepted”.
“A group of Muslim fundamentalists in Hyderabad have come out against the Mappila song. It is understood that some of the people have registered a complaint at a police station saying that the song has insulted Prophet Mohammed. We can’t view all these as accidental. This is intolerance against artistic creativity and free thought. Intolerance from any corner can’t be accepted,” the CM wrote on Facebook on Thursday.
A complaint against the makers of Oru Adaar Love has been filed at the Falaknuma police, station alleging that the song has derogatory lyrics that hurt Muslim sentiments.
Pinarayi Vijayan’s post adds, “The song, written by PM Jabbar and sung by Thalassery Rafeeq, was broadcasted by Akashvani in 1978. But it was the renowned Mappila singer Eranjoli Moosa who gave the song its popularity. The song has been sung at Muslim houses, especially during weddings, for decades now. Those who have listened to the song know that it’s a nice Mappila song. The theme of the song is Prophet Mohammed’s love and his wedding with Khadeeja Biwi. The controversy also reminds us of the fact that religious fundamentalists, whichever section they belong to, hate all kinds of artistic creativity. They can’t tolerate the happiness and knowledge that human beings get from art and literature.”
The post concludes saying, “Art and literature are strong weapons against religious fundamentalism and terrorism.”