Explained: What Is The Made In Heaven 2 Dalit Wedding Controversy All About?
Radhika's character is allegedly based on Yashica Dutt
The much-awaited season 2 of the 2019 Prime Video series Made In Heaven dropped earlier this month and we couldn’t be happier. The show has received immense love from fans but episode 5 of the show titled ‘The heart skipped a beat’ has been embroiled in controversy. The episode starring Radhika Apte showcases a Dalit-Buddhist wedding which has received a lot of love from social media users. So, what’s the controversy all about? Here’s all we know about the controversy around the Dalit wedding shown in episode 5 of the Prime Video series headlined by Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur.
I absolutely loved the assertion, defiance and resistance of the Dalit woman character — Pallavi.
For those Vanchits and Bahujans who have watched the episode — Assert your identity and only then you gain political prominence. As Pallavi puts it, “Everything is about the… pic.twitter.com/i9YETwyLqc
— Prakash Ambedkar (@Prksh_Ambedkar) August 14, 2023
In the episode, Radhika Apte plays the role of a Dalit author, Pallavi Menke, who advocates for her community and talks about “coming out” as a Dalit woman. The character in the episode has graduated from Columbia University. Now, does that remind you of someone we all know? Well, it does. The story in the episode seems inspired by the life of Author Yashica Dutt. The author wrote a book titled ‘Coming Out as Dalit’ and also happens to have obtained a Master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Radhika Apte's Pallavi walking through the pool of water during her wedding ceremony was 🫶 What a bold and brilliant take on years of stigmatisation of Dalits in access of water! Kudos to @ghaywan 👏 Masaan, Sacred Games, Geeli Pucchi and now this! Can't wait for his next.
— Agam Dhingra (@agamdhingra) August 13, 2023
Also Read: Mrunal Thakur’s Episode In Made In Heaven 2 Gets Women On Twitter Talking About Abuse
So, What Is The Controversy About?
Episode 5 of Made In Heaven 2, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan does not credit author Yashica Dutt for inspiring the episode. In fact, after several viewers pointed out that Radhika Apte’s character looks inspired by Yashica Dutta and questioned the lack of credits, it was revealed that the author was not even asked for permission or informed about the Prime Video series showcasing a character based on her. Just a day ago, the author took to Instagram to speak her 2 cents and was quick to point out the irony that the episode that shows a Dalit woman taking power back from society is inspired by a Dalit woman however, the ideas she cultivated and advocated for were taken without permission or credit. The author pointed out that the people from her caste have a history of being “taken from, erased, ignored, obliterated” from their own stories and that’s precisely what seems to be the case here.
Rewatched the Dalit wedding episode of #MIH Season 2. It is so beautiful and exquisitely shot and Radhika Apte is fabulous and all that.
But such a dampener that the show-runners did not explicitly take consent from @YashicaDutt whose life and words the episode is based on! What… pic.twitter.com/uIZXUiZWS3— Sohini M. (@Mittermaniac) August 15, 2023
While Yashica Dutt expressed that she continues to support filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s work, she also added that she is reclaiming the work of her life while demanding that the makers and Prime Video formally acknowledge her life works and ideas. The author took a moment to appreciate that the filmmaker acknowledged her work and the fact that the episode is inspired by her in an Instagram post but she also highlighted that it came after viewers questioned her missing credits.
View this post on Instagram
Also Read: Who Is Trinetra Haldar, Trans Doctor Making Her Acting Debut With Made In Heaven Season 2?
What Did Neeraj Ghaywan Say?
In an Instagram post, Neeraj Ghaywan expressed his happiness about the love episode 5 of Made In Heaven Season 2 got from people. He dedicated the post to all the people who played an important role in shaping the story in the episode. Thanking Babasaheb Ambedkar for making it possible to tell the story, the filmmaker stated that parts of the story were inspired by his own personal experiences. At the end o the post, the filmmaker thanks Yashica Dutt and her book which inspired the term “coming out” as well as Pallavi’s interview section of the episode.
View this post on Instagram
Twitter Reactions
Twitter doesn’t seem to be very happy with the makers of Made In Heaven 2 for neither crediting, nor taking permission from author Yashica Dutt for creating a character based on her, her life as well as her work.
Sure others have used the coming out trope (and I cite both Baudh and Dutt in my book) and even as this is a problem with originary narratives, one sketch in the series for very obviously modelled on @YashicaDutt, the person and the book. Why not acknowledge that? https://t.co/LUyCuW5odS
— Srila Roy (@ProfSrilaRoy) August 16, 2023
https://twitter.com/satabdisambedna/status/1691687579811467730?s=20https://twitter.com/sonakshinakshi/status/1691672230324031611?s=20https://twitter.com/filminista/status/1691635711550885909?s=20https://twitter.com/whattfmal/status/1691644326588436946?s=20https://twitter.com/veenadubal/status/1691572136127946913?s=20https://twitter.com/thehungrytide/status/1691544563859570688?s=20https://twitter.com/madnwitty/status/1691541563493548032?s=20https://twitter.com/ruchachitnis/status/1691537839690006528?s=20
log edgy banne ke liye har popular opinion diss kar dete hain even if that makes no sense. imagine if you created an identity for yourself like how @YashicaDutt did and then people just start using that without even letting you know in several films and shows. buri baat toh hai.
— needlessly defiant (@sonakshinakshi) August 16, 2023
If the World sees Yashica Dutt in the character…. but you the filmmaker doesn't see Enough of a reason to acknowledge it in the writing credits…. Gotta reflect on what happened there.
— Aliya Curmally (@filminista) August 16, 2023
they better apologize to yashica dutt and give her due credit otherwise there's no point of all the issues made in heaven tried to highlight, it'll only prove their hypocrisy
— mal🇵🇸 (@whattfmal) August 16, 2023
We all look forward to seeing @YashicaDutt *appropriately* acknowledged and compensated for her incredible contributions to the storyline. https://t.co/VOezGIeTmL
— Veena Dubal (@veenadubal) August 15, 2023
https://twitter.com/thehungrytide/status/1691544563859570688?s=20
Also Read: Made in Heaven 2 में Radhika Apte का दलित वेडिंग एपिसोड देख नेटिजेन्स हुए हैरान, जानें कैसा था रिएक्शन!
A person who has no clue about dalit lives jumps into a convo about @YashicaDutt & credits around #MadeInHeavenS2, gets called out, posts an SS and now victimizes herself for getting blocked. How petty. #JustSavarnaThings https://t.co/79QzIsOGg5
— Maddy Koodige (@madnwitty) August 15, 2023
The erasure is breathtaking. HOW did they not consult?! Especially a story that centers a Dalit woman’s protagonism, brilliance & deeply personal journey & story. This is irony on steroids. But mostly it’s business as usual, which is just sad. Write some checks 💰@MadeInHeavenTv
— Rucha (She/Her) (@ruchachitnis) August 15, 2023
Now that's insane. #MadeInHeaven2 roped big fashion names and deliberately skipped giving due credit to the real one, @YashicaDutt https://t.co/P9iBPgWtsB
— Pragnya (@lifewtmypenguin) August 15, 2023
We’re glad Yashica Dutt called out the irony and the lack of credit in the episode and took back power and reclaimed her work.
First Published: August 16, 2023 12:19 PMMade In Heaven Season 2: Sobhita Dhulipala’s Style, Sabyasachi’s Acting Debut Has Twitter Screaming!
